Laundry treating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A laundry treating apparatus includes a tub, a water supply, a controller, a drum, and a rotator. The rotator includes a bottom portion positioned on the bottom surface, a pillar upwardly protruding from the bottom portion, and a blade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar, wherein the blade extends from one end facing toward the bottom portion to the other end facing toward the open surface. The controller controls the water supply such that the water supply amount is equal to or greater than a preset minimum water supply amount in the washing process, and a vertical level of said one end of the blade with respect to the bottom portion is lower than a vertical level of a water surface corresponding to the minimum water supply amount.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2020-0102585, filed on Aug. 14, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, and moreparticularly, to a laundry treating apparatus having a rotator disposedin a drum.

BACKGROUND

A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that puts clothes, bedding,and the like (hereinafter, referred to as laundry) into a drum to removecontamination from the laundry. The laundry treating apparatus mayperform processes such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, drying, and thelike. The laundry treating apparatuses may be classified into a toploading type laundry treating apparatus and a front loading type laundrytreating apparatus based on a scheme of putting the laundry into thedrum.

The laundry treating apparatus may include a housing forming anappearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a tub accommodated in thehousing, a drum that is rotatably mounted inside the tub and into whichthe laundry is put, and a detergent feeder that feeds detergent into thedrum.

When the drum is rotated by a motor while wash water is supplied to thelaundry accommodated in the drum, dirt on the laundry may be removed byfriction with the drum and the wash water.

In one example, a rotator may be disposed inside the drum to improve alaundry washing effect. The rotator may be rotated inside the drum toform a water flow, and the laundry washing effect may be improved by therotator.

Specifically, the rotator may include a pillar extending in a directionparallel to a rotation shaft of the drum, and a blade that forms a waterflow when the pillar rotates may be disposed on an outer circumferentialsurface of the pillar.

With respect to the rotator, U.S. Pat. No. 941,741 discloses a rotatorincluding a pillar having a blade formed thereon. The blade of therotator extends in a curved form in some sections, and extends parallelto a longitudinal direction of the pillar in the remaining sections.

The rotator disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 941,741 may be disadvantageous interms of molding because the blade has a curved shape with aninclination angle varying in some sections, and may be disadvantageousin improving a washing efficiency because the blade extends parallel tothe longitudinal direction of the pillar in the remaining section.

In addition, U.S. patent Ser. No. 15/067,294 discloses a rotatorincluding vanes inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction ofthe pillar. A plurality of vanes are disposed along a longitudinaldirection of the pillar, and have opposite inclination angles.

Because the rotator disclosed in U.S. patent Ser. No. 15/067,294 has theplurality of vanes having the different inclination angles from eachother, ascending or descending of the water flow is difficult to occurwhen the rotator rotates, so that it may be disadvantageous in improvingthe washing efficiency through formation of a three-dimensional waterflow.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 839,997 discloses a rotator including a bladeextending in a zigzag form in some sections and extending in parallelwith the longitudinal direction of a pillar in the remaining sections.

In the rotator of U.S. Pat. No. 839,997, because the blade extends inthe zigzag form in some sections, it is difficult to generate one of theascending water flow or the descending water flow during the rotation,which may be disadvantageous in improving the washing efficiency throughthe formation of the three-dimensional water flow.

In the laundry treating apparatus including the rotator that forms thewater flow, it is an important task in the art to provide a rotator thatis designed to be advantageous to the formation of the three-dimensionalwater flow when the rotator is rotated, which is advantageous to improvethe washing efficiency with various rotation strategies, and that isefficient in forming the three-dimensional water flow, effectivelyreduces a load resulted from the rotation, and effectively secures amechanical strength.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to provide a laundrytreating apparatus that may improve a washing efficiency by effectivelyforming a water flow even when an amount of water supply is changed.

In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure are intended toprovide a laundry treating apparatus that is efficiently designed toeffectively improve space utilization and washing efficiency.

In the present disclosure, a rotator disposed inside the drum mayinclude a pillar, that is, an agitator. The present disclosure is torealize formation of a water flow and circulation of laundry that mayimprove a washing efficiency by developing a structure differentiatedfrom that in the prior art.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may improve a washingperformance for not only a large amount of laundry but also for a smallamount of laundry load by optimizing a height of a blade of a pillar.

A pillar on which a blade is formed may be advantageous in exhibitinghigh washing performance under the large load of laundry, but may bedisadvantageous under the small load because of unnecessary increase ina driver load and the like.

For example, in the case of the drum installed inside the tub, avertical level of a water surface for the small load may be determinedbased on a diameter of the drum. A criterion for the small load may beinput laundry of a weight of 8 lb.

A bottom portion of the rotator, that is, a pulsator, may include aprotrusion that may form a water flow, and the blade may be started at apoint spaced apart from the protrusion.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the starting point ofthe blade is located at a vertical level lower than the vertical levelof the water surface under the small load, in a washing process with thesmall load, along with the protrusion of the bottom portion, the bladeof the pillar may also come into contact with water and the laundry, sothat improvement of the washing performance through the blade may beachieved even with the small load.

In a CU standard 8 lb performance test, excellent performance indicatorsmay be secured for the small load in a state in which the pillar and theblade are formed, so that it is possible to provide a consumer with thelaundry treating apparatus with the improved washing performance.

That is, one embodiment of the present disclosure may effectivelyimprove the washing efficiency even under the small load as well asunder the large load by optimally designing the vertical level of thestarting point of the blade with respect to the diameter of the drum.

A laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include a tub, a water supply, a controller, a drum, anda rotator.

The tub may provide therein a space for water to be stored, the watersupply may supply water into the tub, the controller may control thewater supply in a washing process to adjust a water supply amount, thedrum may be rotatably disposed inside the tub, a top surface of the drummay be opened to form an open surface, a rotation shaft may be coupledto a bottom surface of the drum located on an opposite side of the opensurface, and a rotator may be installed so as to be rotatable on thebottom surface and inside the drum.

The rotator may include a bottom portion positioned on the bottomsurface, a pillar upwardly protruding from the bottom portion, and ablade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar,wherein the blade extends from one end facing toward the bottom portionto the other end facing toward the open surface,

The controller may control the water supply such that the water supplyamount is equal to or greater than a preset minimum water supply amountin the washing process, and a vertical level of said one end of theblade with respect to the bottom portion may be lower than a verticallevel of a water surface corresponding to the minimum water supplyamount.

A vertical distance between said one end of the blade and the bottomportion may be equal to or less than 0.25 times the diameter of thedrum. Said one end of the blade may be located below the water surfaceand the other end of the blade may be located above the water surface inthe washing process.

The controller may control the water supply such that the water supplyamount is equal to or less than a preset maximum water supply amount inthe washing process, and a vertical level of the other end of the bladewith respect to the bottom portion may be equal to or higher than avertical level of a water surface corresponding to the maximum watersupply amount.

The rotator may further include a protrusion protruding upward from thebottom portion and extending in a direction to be away from the pillar.A protruding height from the bottom portion of the protrusion may beequal to or smaller than a height of the water surface corresponding tothe minimum water supply amount.

Said one end of the blade may be spaced upwardly apart from theprotrusion. A vertical distance between said one end of the blade andthe bottom portion may be equal to or less than 0.1 times the diameterof the drum.

The protrusion may include a plurality of protrusions disposed to bespaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of thebottom portion. At least two of the plurality of protrusions may havedifferent protruding heights from the bottom portion.

The protrusion may have a main protrusion having the greatest protrudingheight from the bottom portion among the plurality of protrusions, andhaving an inner end facing toward the pillar connected to the pillar.

A protruding height from the bottom portion of the main protrusion maybe equal to or smaller than a height of the water surface correspondingto the minimum water supply amount.

A protruding length from the bottom portion of the inner end of the mainprotrusion may be greater than an upward spaced distance of said one endof the blade from the inner end of the main protrusion.

The blade may extend from said one end to the other end while beinginclined in one of circumferential directions of the pillar with respectto a longitudinal direction of the pillar, and said one end of the blademay be disposed at a position spaced apart from the main protrusion insaid one direction.

The blade may include a plurality of blades disposed to be spaced apartfrom each other along a circumferential direction of the pillar, and theblade may extend obliquely with respect to a longitudinal direction ofthe pillar.

In one example, a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may include a tub for providing therein aspace for water to be stored, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub,wherein a top surface of the drum is opened to form an open surface,wherein a rotation shaft is coupled to a bottom surface of the drumlocated on an opposite side of the open surface, and a rotator installedso as to be rotatable on the bottom surface and inside the drum.

The rotator may include a bottom portion positioned on the bottomsurface, a pillar upwardly protruding from the bottom portion, and ablade protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the pillar,wherein the blade extends from one end positioned at a lower end of thebottom portion to the other end positioned at an upper end of thepillar.

Said one end of the blade may be located below a water surface of thewater stored in the tub, and the other end of the blade may be locatedabove the water surface in a washing process.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide the laundry treatingapparatus that may improve the washing efficiency by effectively formingthe water flow even when the amount of water supply is changed.

In addition, embodiments of the present disclosure may provide thelaundry treating apparatus that is efficiently designed to effectivelyimprove the space utilization and the washing efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an interior of a laundry treating apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a rotation shaft coupled to a drum and arotator in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a rotator of a laundrytreating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a blade composed of a plurality of dividedbodies in a laundry treating apparatus according to another embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a drum and a rotator in a laundry treatingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a rotator in a laundry treating apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a contact area with water of a rotator in FIG.6 for a minimum water supply amount.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a contact area with water of a rotator in FIG.6 for a maximum water supply amount.

FIG. 9 is a view showing an inclination angle of a blade of a rotator ina laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a state in which blades spaced apart from eachother are formed on a rotator of a laundry treating apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a cross-section of a pillar in a laundrytreating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a rotator in a laundry treating apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a view of a protrusion formed on a bottom portion of arotator in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure viewed from the top.

FIG. 14 is a view of a protrusion formed on a bottom portion of arotator in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure viewed from the side.

FIG. 15 is a view showing a state in which a protrusion and a blade of arotator are spaced apart from each other in a laundry treating apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 16 is a view showing a cap coupled to a pillar in a laundrytreating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 17A to 17C are diagrams showing an amount of deformation based ona spaced distance between a cap and a blade in a laundry treatingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a rotator from which a cap is separated in alaundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a cap-coupled-portion of a pillar in a laundrytreating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a rotator in a laundry treatingapparatus viewed in a lateral direction according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 21 is a graph showing a washing ability of a rotator based on achange in a length of a pillar with respect to a bottom portion in anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 is a graph showing a washing ability of a rotator based on achange in a diameter of a bottom portion with respect to a drum in anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 23 is a graph showing a washing ability of a rotator based on achange in a height of a blade with respect to a height of a pillar in anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a graph showing a load of a driver based on a change in anextended length of a blade with respect to a height of the blade in anembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 25 is a graph showing a washing ability of a rotator based on achange in an extended length of a blade with respect to a height of theblade in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing a water contact area of a blade based on achange in a vertical level of one end of a blade with respect to a drumin an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 27 is a graph showing a deviation between a horizontal force and avertical force of a blade based on an inclination angle of the blade inan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 28 is a graph showing a driver load based on the number of bladesand the number of turns in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 29 is a graph showing an ascending and descending water flowformation amount of a rotator based on the number of blades and thenumber of turns in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 30 shows a graph showing a load of a driver based on a verticaldistance between a main protrusion and a blade in an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 31 is a graph showing a washing ability of a rotator based on ahorizontal distance with respect to a vertical distance between a mainprotrusion and a blade in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 32 is a graph showing a relationship between a spaced distancebetween a cap and a blade and an amount of deformation of acap-coupled-portion in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedin detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that a personhaving ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the presentdisclosure belongs may easily implement the embodiment.

However, the present disclosure is able to be implemented in variousdifferent forms and is not limited to the embodiment described herein.In addition, in order to clearly describe the present disclosure,components irrelevant to the description are omitted in the drawings.Further, similar reference numerals are assigned to similar componentsthroughout the specification.

Duplicate descriptions of the same components are omitted herein.

In addition, it will be understood that when a component is referred toas being ‘connected to’ or ‘coupled to’ another component herein, it maybe directly connected to or coupled to the other component, or one ormore intervening components may be present. On the other hand, it willbe understood that when a component is referred to as being ‘directlyconnected to’ or ‘directly coupled to’ another component herein, thereare no other intervening components.

The terminology used in the detailed description is for the purpose ofdescribing the embodiments of the present disclosure only and is notintended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’ and ‘an’ are intended to includethe plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise.

It should be understood that the terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’,‘includes’, and ‘including’ when used herein, specify the presence ofthe features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, orcombinations thereof described herein, but do not preclude the presenceor addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations,components, or combinations thereof.

In addition, in this specification, the term ‘and/or’ includes acombination of a plurality of listed items or any of the plurality oflisted items. In the present specification, ‘A or B’ may include ‘A’,‘B’, or ‘both A and B’.

FIG. 1 shows an interior of a laundry treating apparatus 1 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure. The laundry treating apparatus1 may include a cabinet 10, a tub 20, and a drum 30.

The cabinet 10 may be in any shape as long as being able to accommodatethe tub 20, and FIG. 1 shows a case in which the cabinet 10 forms anappearance of the laundry treating apparatus 1 as an example.

The cabinet 10 may have a laundry inlet 12 defined therein for puttinglaundry into the drum 30 or withdrawing the laundry stored in the drum30 to the outside, and may have a laundry door 13 for opening andclosing the laundry inlet 12.

FIG. 1 shows that a laundry inlet 12 is defined in a top surface 11 of acabinet 10, and a laundry door 13 for opening and closing the laundryinlet 12 is disposed on the top surface 11 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. However, the laundry inlet 12 and the laundrydoor 13 are not necessarily limited to being defined in and disposed onthe top surface 11 of the cabinet 10.

A tub 20 is means for storing water necessary for washing laundry. Thetub 20 may have a tub opening 22 defined therein in communication withthe laundry inlet 12. For example, one surface of the tub 20 may beopened to define the tub opening 22. At least a portion of the tubopening 22 may be positioned to face the laundry inlet 12, so that thetub opening 22 may be in communication with the laundry inlet 12.

FIG. 1 shows a top loading type laundry treating apparatus 1 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, FIG. 1 shows thata top surface of the tub 20 is opened to define the tub opening 22, andthe tub opening 22 is positioned below the laundry inlet 12 and incommunication with the laundry inlet 12.

The tub 20 is fixed at a location inside the cabinet 10 through asupport of the tub 20. The support of the tub 20 may be in a structurecapable of damping vibrations generated in the tub 20.

The tub 20 is supplied with water through a water supply 60. The watersupply 60 may be composed of a water supply pipe that connects a watersupply source with the tub 20, and a valve that opens and closes thewater supply pipe.

The laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may include a detergent feeder that stores detergenttherein and is able to supply the detergent into the tub 20. As thewater supply 60 supplies water to the detergent feeder, the water thathas passed through the detergent feeder may be supplied to the tub 20together with the detergent.

In addition, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure may include a water sprayer that sprays waterinto the tub 20 through the tub opening 22. The water supply 60 may beconnected to the water sprayer to supply water directly into the tub 20through the water sprayer.

The water stored in the tub 20 is discharged to the outside of thecabinet 10 through a drain 65. The drain 65 may be composed of a drainpipe that guides the water inside the tub 20 to the outside of thecabinet 10, a drain pump disposed on the drain pipe, and a drain valvefor controlling opening and closing of the drain pipe.

The drum 30 may be rotatably disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30 maybe constructed to have a circular cross-section in order to be rotatableinside the tub 20. For example, the drum 30 may be in a cylindricalshape as shown in FIG. 1.

The drum 30 may have a drum opening defined therein positioned below thetub opening 22 to communicate with the inlet. One surface of the drum 30may be opened to define an open surface 31 as will be described later,and the open surface 31 may correspond to the drum opening.

A plurality of drum through-holes that communicate an interior and anexterior of the drum 30 with each other, that is, the interior of thedrum 30 and an interior of the tub 20 divided by the drum 30 with eachother may be defined in an outer circumferential surface of the drum 30.Accordingly, the water supplied into the tub 20 may be supplied to theinterior of the drum 30 in which the laundry is stored through the drumthrough-holes.

The drum 30 may be rotated by a driver 50. The driver 50 may be composedof a stator fixed at a location outside the tub 20 and forming arotating magnetic field when a current is supplied, a rotor rotated bythe rotating magnetic field, and a rotation shaft 40 disposed topenetrate the tub 20 to connect the drum 30 and the like to the rotor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rotation shaft 40 may be disposed to form aright angle with respect to a bottom surface 33 of the tub 20. In thiscase, the laundry inlet 12 may be defined in the top surface 11 of thecabinet 10, the tub opening 22 may be defined in the top surface of thetub 20, and the drum opening may be defined in the top surface of thedrum 30.

In one example, when the drum 30 rotates in a state in which the laundryis concentrated in a certain region inside the drum 30, a dynamicunbalance state (an unbalanced state) occurs in the drum 30. When thedrum 30 in the unbalanced state rotates, the drum 30 rotates whilevibrating by a centrifugal force acting on the laundry. The vibration ofthe drum 30 may be transmitted to the tub 20 or the cabinet 10 to causea noise.

To avoid problems like this, the present disclosure may further includea balancer 39 that controls the unbalance of the drum 30 by generating aforce to offset or damp the centrifugal force acting on the laundry.

In one example, referring to FIG. 1, the tub 20 may have a space definedtherein in which the water may be stored, and the drum 30 may berotatably disposed inside the tub 20. The drum 30 may include the opensurface 31 through which the laundry enters and exits, and a bottomsurface 33 positioned on an opposite side of the open surface 31.

FIG. 1 shows that the top surface of the drum 30 corresponds to the opensurface 31, and the bottom surface thereof corresponds to the bottomsurface 33 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Asdescribed above, the open surface 31 may correspond to a surface throughwhich the laundry input through the laundry inlet 12 of the cabinet 10and the tub opening 22 of the tub 20 passes.

In one example, the water supply 60 may be constructed to be connectedto the means such as the detergent feeder, the water sprayer, or thelike to supply the water into the tub 20 as described above. In oneexample, an embodiment of the present disclosure may include acontroller 70 that controls the water supply 60 to adjust a water supplyamount in a washing process and the like.

The controller 70 is configured to adjust the amount of water suppliedto the tub 20 in the washing process, a rinsing process, or the like.The amount of water supplied may be adjusted through a manipulation unitdisposed on the cabinet 10 and manipulated by a user, or may bedetermined through an amount of laundry, a load of the driver 50, or thelike.

A plurality of water supply amounts are preset in the controller 70, andthe controller 70 may be configured to control the water supply 60 basedon one of the preset water supply amounts in response to a commandselected by a user or the like in the washing process or the like.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may further include a rotator 100. The rotator 100 may berotatably installed on the bottom surface 33 and inside the drum 30.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drum 30 and the rotator100 may be constructed to be rotatable, independently. A water flow maybe formed by the rotation of the drum 30 and the rotator 100, andfriction or collision with the laundry may occur, so that washing orrinsing of the laundry may be made.

In one example, FIG. 2 shows the rotation shaft 40 coupled with the drum30 and the rotator 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Each of the drum 30 and the rotator 100 may be connected to the driver50 through the rotation shaft 40 to receive a rotational force. In oneembodiment of the present disclosure, the drum 30 may be rotated as afirst rotation shaft 41 is coupled to the bottom surface 33 thereof, andthe rotator 100 may be rotated by being coupled to a second rotationshaft 42 that passes through the bottom surface 33 and separatelyrotated with respect to the first rotation shaft 41.

The second rotation shaft 42 may rotate in a direction the same as oropposite to a rotation direction of the first rotation shaft 41. Thefirst rotation shaft 41 and the second rotation shaft 42 may receivepower through one driver 50, and the driver 50 may be connected to agear set 45 that distributes the power to the first rotation shaft 41and the second rotation shaft 42 and adjusts the rotation direction.

That is, a driving shaft of the driver 50 may be connected to the gearset 45 to transmit the power to the gear set 45, and each of the firstrotation shaft 41 and the second rotation shaft 42 may be connected tothe gear set 45 to receive the power.

The first rotation shaft 41 may be constructed as a hollow shaft, andthe second rotation shaft 42 may be constructed as a solid shaftdisposed inside the first rotation shaft 41. Accordingly, one embodimentof the present disclosure may effectively provide the power to the firstrotation shaft 41 and the second rotation shaft 42 parallel to eachother through the single driver 50.

FIG. 2 shows a planetary gear-type gear set 45, and shows a state inwhich each of the driving shaft, the first rotation shaft 41, and thesecond rotation shaft 42 is coupled to the gear set 45. Referring toFIG. 2, a rotational relationship of the first rotation shaft 41 and thesecond rotation shaft 42 in one embodiment of the present disclosurewill be described as follows.

The driving shaft of the driver 50 may be connected to a central sungear in the planetary gear-type gear set 45. When the driving shaft isrotated, a satellite gear and a ring gear in the gear set 45 may rotatetogether by the rotation of the sun gear.

The first rotation shaft 41 coupled to the bottom surface 33 of the drum30 may be connected to the ring gear positioned at the outermost portionof the gear set 45. The second rotation shaft 42 coupled to the rotator100 may be connected to the satellite gear disposed between the sun gearand the ring gear in the gear set 45.

In one example, the gear set 45 may include a first clutch element 46and a second clutch element 47 that may restrict the rotation of each ofthe rotation shafts 40 as needed. The gear set 45 may further include agear housing fixed to the tub 20, and the first clutch element 46 may bedisposed in the gear housing to selectively restrict the rotation of thefirst rotation shaft 41 connected to the ring gear.

The second clutch element 47 may be constructed to mutually restrict orrelease the rotations of the driving shaft and the ring gear. That is,the rotation of the ring gear or the rotation of the first rotationshaft 41 may be synchronized with or desynchronized with the drivingshaft by the second clutch element 47.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the first clutchelement 46 and the second clutch element 47 are in the releasing state,the first rotation shaft 41 and the second rotation shaft 42 rotate inthe opposite directions based on the rotational relationship of theplanetary gear. That is, the drum 30 and the rotator 100 rotate in theopposite directions.

In one example, when the first clutch element 46 is in the restrictingstate, the rotations of the ring gear and the first rotation shaft 41are restricted, and the rotation of the second rotation shaft 42 isperformed. That is, the drum 30 is in a stationary state and only therotator 100 rotates. In this connection, the rotation direction of therotator 100 may be determined based on the rotation direction of thedriver 50.

In one example, when the second clutch element 47 is in the restrictingstate, the rotations of the driving shaft and the first rotation shaft41 are mutually restricted to each other, and the rotations of thedriving shaft, the first rotation shaft 41, and the second rotationshaft 42 may be mutually restricted to each other by the rotationalrelationship of the planetary gear. That is, the drum 30 and the rotator100 rotate in the same direction.

When the first clutch element 46 and the second clutch element 47 are inthe restricting state at the same time, the driving shaft, the firstrotation shaft 41, and the second rotation shaft 42 are all in thestationary state. The controller 70 may implement a necessary drivingstate by appropriately controlling the driver 50, the first clutchelement 46, the second clutch element 47, and the like in the washingprocess, the rinsing process, and the like.

In one example, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotator 100according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In one embodimentof the present disclosure, the rotator 100 may include a bottom portion110, a pillar 150, and a blade 170.

The bottom portion 110 may be located on the bottom surface 33 of thedrum 30. The bottom portion 110 may be positioned parallel to the bottomsurface 33 of the drum 30 to be rotatable on the bottom surface 33. Thesecond rotation shaft 42 described above may be coupled to the bottomportion 110.

That is, the first rotation shaft 41 may be coupled to the drum 30, andthe second rotation shaft 42 constructed as the solid shaft inside thehollow first rotation shaft 41 may penetrate the bottom surface 33 ofthe drum 30 and be coupled to the bottom portion 110 of the rotator 100.

The rotator 100 coupled to the second rotation shaft 42 may rotateindependently with respect to the drum 30. That is, the rotator 100 maybe rotated in the direction the same as or opposite to that of the drum30, and such rotation direction may be selected by the controller 70 orthe like when necessary.

The first rotation shaft 41 may be coupled to a center of the bottomsurface 33 of the drum 30. FIG. 1 shows that the top surface of the drum30 is opened to define the open surface 31 according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure, and the bottom surface thereof corresponds tothe bottom surface 33.

That is, the laundry treating apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 corresponds toa top loader. The drum 30 may have a side surface, that is, an outercircumferential surface, that connects the top surface with the bottomsurface, and a cross-section of the drum 30 may have a circular shapefor balancing the rotation. That is, the drum 30 may have a cylindricalshape.

The second rotation shaft 42 may be coupled to a center of the bottomportion 110 of the rotator 100. The second rotation shaft 42 may becoupled to one surface facing the drum 30, that is, a bottom surface ofthe bottom portion 110, or the second rotation shaft 42 may pass througha center of the drum 30 to be coupled to the bottom portion 110.

The bottom portion 110 may have a circular cross-section inconsideration of balancing of the rotation. The bottom portion 110 maybe rotated about the second rotation shaft 42 coupled to the centerthereof, and the center of the bottom portion 110 may coincide with thecenter of the drum 30.

The bottom portion 110 may basically have a disk shape, and a specificshape thereof may be determined in consideration of a connectionrelationship between a protrusion 130, the pillar 150, and the like aswill be described later.

The bottom portion 110 may cover at least a portion of the drum 30. Thebottom portion 110 may be constructed such that the bottom surfacethereof and the drum 30 are spaced apart from each other to facilitatethe rotation. However, a spaced distance between the bottom portion 110and the bottom surface 33 of the drum 30 may be varied as needed.

In one example, as shown in FIG. 3, the pillar 150 may have a shapeprotruding from the bottom portion 110 toward the open surface 31. Thepillar 150 may be integrally formed with the bottom portion 110 ormanufactured separately and coupled to the bottom portion 110.

The pillar 150 may be rotated together with the bottom portion 110. Thepillar 150 may extend from the center of the bottom portion 110 towardthe open surface 31. FIG. 1 shows the pillar 150 protruding upwardlyfrom the bottom portion 110 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The pillar 150 may have a circular cross-section, and aprotruding height L1 from the bottom portion 110 may vary.

The pillar 150 may have a curved side surface forming an outercircumferential surface 162, the rotator 100 may include the blade 170,and the blade 170 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface162 of the pillar 150.

The blade 170 may be constructed to protrude from the pillar 150, andmay extend along the pillar 150 to form the water flow inside the drum30 when the pillar 150 rotates.

A plurality of blades 170 may be disposed and spaced apart from eachother along a circumferential direction C of the pillar 150, and mayextend from the bottom portion 110 to the open surface 31 along adirection inclined with respect to a longitudinal direction L of thepillar 150.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the blade 170 may extend approximatelyalong the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150. The plurality ofblades 170 may be disposed, and the number of blades may vary as needed.FIG. 3 shows a state in which three blades 170 are disposed on the outercircumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150 according to an embodimentof the present disclosure.

The blades 170 may be uniformly disposed along the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150. That is, spaced distances L5 between theblades 170 may be the same. When viewed from the open surface 31 of thedrum 30, the blades 170 may be spaced apart from each other at an angleof 120 degrees with respect to a center O of the pillar 150.

The blade 170 may extend along a direction inclined with respect to thelongitudinal direction L or the circumferential direction C of thepillar 150. The blade 170 may extend obliquely from the bottom portion110 to the open surface 31 on the outer circumferential surface 162 ofthe pillar 150. An extended length L3 of the blade 170 may be varied asneeded.

The extended length L3 of the blade 170 means a length of the blade 170extended along the extension direction thereof from one end of the blade170 facing toward the bottom portion 110 or from one end 171 to theother end facing toward the open surface or to the other end 173, and isdifferent from the height L2 between said one end and the other end.

As the blade 170 extends obliquely, when the rotator 100 is rotated, anascending or descending water flow may be formed in the water inside thedrum 30 by the blade 170 of the pillar 150.

For example, when the blade 170 extends from the bottom portion 110toward the open surface 31 while being inclined with respect to onedirection C1 among the circumferential directions C of the pillar 150,the descending water flow may be formed by the inclined shape of theblade 170 when the rotator 100 rotates in said one direction C1, and theascending water flow may be formed by the blade 170 when the rotator 100is rotated in the other direction C2.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said one direction C1 andthe other direction C2 of the circumferential direction C of the pillar150 may correspond to directions opposite to each other with respect tothe outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150, and may be adirection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L of the pillar150.

Said one direction C1 and the other direction C2 of the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150 may correspond to the rotation directionof the rotator 100. Because the rotation direction of the rotator 100and the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 are parallel toeach other, the rotator 100 may be rotated in said one direction C1 orrotated in the other direction C2.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the plurality of blades170 are disposed and spaced apart from each other, the water flow may beuniformly formed by the pillar. When the rotator 100 is rotated by theinclined extension form of the blade 170, not a simple rotational waterflow, but the ascending water flow in which water at a lower portion ofthe drum 30 flows upward or the descending water flow in which water atan upper portion of the drum 30 flows downward may occur.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may form a three-dimensionalwater flow through the rotator 100, and thus greatly improve a washingefficiency for the laundry in the washing process. In addition, variouswashing schemes may be implemented by appropriately utilizing theascending water flow and the descending water flow.

The blade 170 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure mayhave a screw shape. That is, the plurality of blades 170 may be disposedand be spaced apart from each other along the circumferential directionC of the pillar 150, and may extend in the form of the screw from oneend 171 facing the bottom portion 110 to the other end 173 facing theopen surface 31.

In other words, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theplurality of blades 170 may extend while being wound on the outercircumferential surface 162 from said one end 152 facing the bottomportion 110 to the other end 154 facing the open surface 31.

In one example, when referring to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the blade 170 may be inclined in said one directionC1 among the circumferential directions C of the pillar 150 with respectto the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150, and may extend fromsaid one end 171 to the other end 173.

That is, the blade 170 may be constructed to be inclined in only saidone direction C1 and not to be inclined in the other direction C2. Whenthe inclination direction of the blade 170 is changed to the otherdirection C2 during the extension, during the rotation of the rotator100, a portion of the blade 170 may generate the ascending water flowand the remaining portion may generate the descending water flow.

In this case, the ascending water flow and the descending water flow mayoccur simultaneously in the rotation of the rotator 100 in said onedirection C1, so that it may be difficult to maximize the effect ofeither ascending or descending of the water.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade 170extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction L of thepillar 150, and extends obliquely to said one direction C1 among thecircumferential directions C of the pillar 150, so that water flowcharacteristics for the rotation of the rotator 100 in said onedirection C1 and the other direction C2 may be maximized. Said onedirection C1 may be one of a clockwise direction and a counterclockwisedirection, and the other direction C2 may be the other one.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure as shown inFIG. 3, the blade 170 may continuously extend from said one end 171 tothe other end 173. That is, the blade 170 may be continuously extendedwithout being cut between said one end 171 and the other end 173.

In addition, the blade 170 may extend from said one end 171 to the otherend 173 to be continuously inclined with respect to the longitudinaldirection L of the pillar 150. That is, the blade 170 may be formed inan inclined shape as a whole without a portion parallel to thelongitudinal direction L of the pillar 150.

When at least a portion of the blade 170 is parallel to the longitudinaldirection L or the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150, it maybe disadvantageous to forming the ascending water flow or the descendingwater flow resulted from the rotation of the pillar 150. Accordingly, inone embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade 170 may be inclinedwith respect to the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 over anentire length L2.

In one example, another embodiment of the present disclosure is shown inFIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the blade 170 may be composed of a plurality of dividedbodies 175 separated from each other between said one end 171 and theother end 173.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a resistance of wateracting on the blade 170 during the rotation of the rotator 100 may bereduced. Accordingly, a load of the driver 50 with respect to therotation of the rotator 100 may be reduced.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which one blade 170 is composed of two dividedbodies 175 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.However, in FIG. 4, the two divided bodies 175 positioned in a line in avertical direction do not constitute one blade 170 together. In FIG. 4,a divided body 175 located above corresponds to an upper portion of oneblade 170, and a divided body 175 located below corresponds to a lowerportion of a blade 170 adjacent to said one blade 170.

In the present disclosure, the blade 170 may be integrally formed orcomposed of the plurality of divided bodies 175 in consideration of aload of the driver 50, a washing efficiency, and the like that aretypically expected in the laundry treating apparatus 1.

In one example, FIG. 5 shows the rotator 100 disposed inside the drum 30according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 shows aside view of the rotator 100 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, in one embodiment of the present disclosure,the length L1 of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greater than 0.8times and equal to or less than 1.2 times of the diameter W2 of thebottom portion 110.

For example, the length L1 of the pillar 150 may be 0.8 times, 0.9times, 1.0 times, 1, 1 times, or 1.2 times the diameter W2 of the bottomportion 110. However, the ratio of the length L1 of the pillar 150 tothe diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 is not necessarily limitedthereto. In FIG. 5, the length L1 of the pillar 150 means a length fromthe top surface of the bottom portion 110 to the upper end of the pillar150. FIG. 21 is a graph showing a washing ability of the rotator 100based on the length L1 of the pillar 150 with respect to the diameter W2of the bottom portion 110 in one embodiment of the present disclosure.In the graph of FIG. 21, a horizontal axis corresponds to the ratio ofthe length L1 of the pillar 150 to the diameter W2 of the bottom portion110, and a vertical axis corresponds to the washing ability of therotator 100.

The washing ability of the rotator 100 may be identified by a removalrate of an input. Specifically, a washing process of the laundry may beperformed by adding a predetermined amount of input to the laundry putinto the drum 30, and the washing ability may be identified by measuringan amount of the input separated and discharged in the washing process.

However, the washing ability of the rotator 100 is not limited to theabove scheme, and it is also possible to derive the washing ability byanalyzing an amount of water flow formed by observing a suspended matterput into the drum 30.

When the length L1 of the pillar 150 with respect to the diameter W2 ofthe bottom portion 110 is increased, the length of the blade 170 mayalso be increased, so that the washing ability may be increased. FIG. 21is a result of maintaining the length of the blade 170 with respect tothe length L1 of the pillar 150 at a predetermined ratio.

As shown in FIG. 21, in a region where the ratio of the length L1 of thepillar 150 to the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 is low, evenwhen the length L1 of the pillar 150 is increased, the length of theblade 170 is equal to or less than a certain value, so that an increasein the washing ability may be relatively small.

In addition, because the length of the blade 170 is equal to or greaterthan a predetermined length in a region where the ratio of the length L1of the pillar 150 with respect to the diameter W2 of the bottom portion110 is high, the amount of water flow formed based on the increase inthe length of the blade 170 may not be increased proportionally.

When the length L1 of the pillar 150 is too large, in the washingprocess, because a surplus length of the pillar 150 that is a length ofa portion does not come into contact with the laundry and the waterbecomes excessive, it may lead to material loss, which may bedisadvantageous.

Furthermore, the increase in the ratio of the length L1 of the pillar150 may result in an increase in the load of the driver 50, and thus maybe disadvantageous in overall washing efficiency. Therefore, as thelength L1 of the pillar 150 increases, the washing ability may beeffectively increased, and it is advantageous to identify an optimalrange for minimizing an unnecessary increase in the load on the driver50.

Further, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the diameter W2 ofthe bottom portion 110 located on the bottom surface of the drum 30 maybe a standard for reflecting the size of the drum 30 or an average watersupply amount. Thus, one embodiment of the present disclosure is toidentify the optimal range of the ratio of the length L1 of the pillar150 with respect to the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110, andprovide the rotator 100 accordingly.

Referring to FIG. 21, it is shown that the washing ability is greatlyincreased starting from a ratio of 0.8 of the length L1 of the pillar150 with respect to the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110, and theincrease rate of the washing ability is decreased starting from a lengthratio of 1.2.

In consideration of the above results, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the ratio of the length L1 of the pillar 150 with respect tothe diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be equal to or higher than0.8 and equal to or lower than 1.2.

The diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be determined variously inconsideration of the diameter of the pillar 150, the sizes of the tub 20and the drum 30 of the laundry treating apparatus 1, a capacity of thelaundry allowed in the laundry treating apparatus 1, the amount of watersupply resulted therefrom, and the like.

For example, the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be equal toor greater than 300 mm and equal to or smaller than 600 mm. The diameterW2 of the bottom portion 110 may be equal to or greater than 350 mm andequal to or smaller than 550 mm. The diameter W2 of the bottom portion110 may be equal to or greater than 400 mm and equal to or smaller than500 mm.

For example, the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be equal toor greater than 440 mm and equal to or smaller than 460 mm, and thediameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be 456 mm. The diameter W2 ofthe bottom portion 110, which corresponds to an example for helping thedescription and understanding of the present disclosure, is not intendedto limit the present disclosure, and is able to allow for normal errorsthat may occur during manufacturing.

The length L1 of the pillar 150 may be variously determined inconsideration of a diameter W1 of the drum 30 as well as a height of thedrum 30, a diameter of the pillar 150, an inclination angle A of theblade 170, and the like.

For example, the length L1 of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greaterthan 300 mm and equal to or smaller than 600 mm. The length L1 of thepillar 150 may be equal to or greater than 350 mm and equal to orsmaller than 550 mm. The length L1 of the pillar 150 may be equal to orgreater than 400 mm and equal to or smaller than 500 mm.

For example, the length L1 of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greaterthan 440 mm and equal to or smaller than 460 mm. The length L1 of thepillar 150 may be 458 mm. The length L1 of the pillar 150 corresponds toan example for helping the description and understanding of the presentdisclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow fornormal errors that may occur during manufacturing. One embodiment of thepresent disclosure determines an allowable ratio between the length L1of the pillar 150 and the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110.Accordingly, the rotator 100 in which the load of the driver 50 iswithin an allowable range while the formation of the water flow by thepillar 150 is effectively achieved may be implemented.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, thediameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 may be equal to or greater than0.7 times and equal to less than 0.9 times the diameter W1 of the drum30. However, the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.

Because the bottom portion 110 is positioned on the bottom surface 33 ofthe drum 30 and rotated, the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 withrespect to the diameter W1 of the drum 30 needs to be considered. Whenthe diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 is too small, the effect ofthe water flow by the rotation of the bottom portion 110 may be toosmall. When the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 is too large, itis easy to cause jamming of the laundry and is disadvantageous in therotation by the load of the driver 50 and the like.

In addition, the increase in the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110including the protrusion 130 for the water flow formation may eventuallybe advantageous for improving the washing ability. However, because theincrease in the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 and the washingability increase rate are not necessarily proportional, it may beadvantageous to determine the optimal range in consideration of theincrease in the load of the driver 50 resulted from the increase in thediameter W2 of the bottom portion 110.

FIG. 22 shows a graph showing a washing ability of the rotator 100 basedon a ratio of the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 to the diameterW1 of the drum 30. A horizontal axis in FIG. 22 represents the ratio ofthe diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 to the diameter W1 of the drum30, and a vertical axis represents the washing ability by the rotator100.

The graph of FIG. 22 is a resulted measured by changing the diameter W2of the bottom portion 110 while maintaining the diameter W1 of the drum30 at a predetermined value.

Referring to FIG. 22, it is identified that the washing abilityincreases as the ratio of diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 to thediameter W1 of the drum 30 increases, and that the increase rate of thewashing ability is largely increased starting from a ratio of diameterW2 of the bottom portion 110 to the diameter W1 of the drum 30 of 0.7.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotator 100is constructed such that the ratios of the diameter W2 of the bottomportion 110 with respect to the diameter W1 of the drum 30 is equal toor greater than 0.7 times, so that it is possible to use the ratio ofthe diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 at which the washing abilitymay be effectively improved in spite of the increase in the load of thedriver 50.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the ratioof the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110 to the diameter W1 of thedrum 30 may be equal to or less than 0.9 such that jamming of thelaundry between the drum 30 and the bottom portion 110 is effectivelysuppressed, which may be derived from repeated experimental resultsconsidering design factors.

In one example, the diameter W1 of the drum 30 may be variouslydetermined in consideration of a relationship between the capacity ofthe laundry allowed in the laundry treating apparatus 1, the watersupply amount, and the tub 20.

For example, the diameter W1 of the drum 20 may be equal to or greaterthan 400 mm and equal to or smaller than 800 mm. The diameter W1 of thedrum 20 may be equal to or greater than 500 mm and equal to or smallerthan 700 mm. The diameter W1 of the drum 20 may be equal to or greaterthan 550 mm and equal to or smaller than 650 mm.

For example, the diameter W1 of the drum 20 may be equal to or greaterthan 590 mm and equal to or smaller than 610 mm, and the diameter W1 ofthe drum 20 may be 594 mm. The diameter W1 of the drum 20, whichcorresponds to an example for helping the description and understandingof the present disclosure, is not intended to limit the presentdisclosure, and is able to allow for normal errors that may occur duringmanufacturing.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade170 may have a height L2 from said one end 171 to the other end 173 inthe longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 equal to or greater than0.5 times the total height L1 of the pillar 150.

A vertical level L4 of said one end 171 and a vertical level of theother end 173 of the blade 170 may be defined as vertical distances froma top surface of the bottom portion 110 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Theheight L2 from said one end 171 to the other end 173 of the blade 170may be defined as the height of the blade 170.

The height L2 of the blade 170 may be determined in consideration of arelationship between an ascending amount and a descending amount of thewater flow by the blade 170 and the load of the driver 50.

For example, as the height L2 of the blade 170 becomes smaller, the areain which the blade 170 is formed may be reduced, and the ascendingamount and the descending amount of the water flow may be reduced.

In addition, as the height L2 of the blade 170 becomes greater, a waterflow forming force may become stronger, but the load of the driver 50may be increased. In addition, the height L2 of the blade 170 may berelated to the inclination angle A of the blade 170, the diameter of thepillar 150, and the like.

Furthermore, the increase in the height L2 of the blade 170 may increasethe amount of water flow generated and improve the washing abilityeventually. However, because the increase in the height L2 of the blade170 and the increase in the washing ability may not be proportional toeach other, an unconditional increase in the height L2 of the blade 170may not be effective in improving the washing ability.

FIG. 23 shows a graph showing a washing ability of the rotator 100 basedon a ratio of the height L2 of the blade 170 to the length L1 of thepillar 150, that is, the height L1 of the pillar 150. A horizontal axisof FIG. 23 represents the ratio of the height L2 of the blade 170 to theheight L1 of the pillar 150, and the vertical axis represents thewashing ability by the rotator 100.

The graph of FIG. 23 is a resulted measured by changing the height L2 ofthe blade 170 while maintaining the height L1 of the pillar 150 at apredetermined value.

Referring to FIG. 23, it is identified that the washing abilityincreases as the height L2 of the blade 170 increases, and that theincrease rate of the washing ability is increased starting from a ratioof height L2 of the blade 170 to the height L1 of the pillar 150 of 0.5.

In consideration of the above results, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the height L2 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 0.5 times the length L1 of the pillar 150. Accordingly, in oneembodiment of the present disclosure, the blade 170 may form anascending water flow and a descending water flow effective inside thedrum 30 effective when the pillar 150 rotates.

The height L2 of the blade 170 may be variously determined based on thesize of the drum 30, the diameter W2 of the bottom portion 110, theheight L1 of the pillar 150, the height of the protrusion 130, theposition of the cap 165, and the like.

For example, the height L2 of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greaterthan 150 mm and equal to or smaller than 500 mm. The height L2 of thepillar 150 may be equal to or greater than 200 mm and equal to orsmaller than 400 mm. The height L2 of the pillar 150 may be equal to orgreater than 250 mm and equal to or smaller than 350 mm.

For example, the height L2 of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greaterthan 275 mm and equal to or smaller than 285 mm. The height L2 of thepillar 150 may be 279 mm. The height L2 of the pillar 150 corresponds toan example for helping the description and understanding of the presentdisclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow fornormal errors that may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade170 may have a length L3 extending from said one end 171 to the otherend 173 along an extension direction equal to or greater than 1.4 timesand equal to or less than 1.8 times the height L2 from said one end 171to the other end 173 with respect to the longitudinal direction L of thepillar 150.

The length L3 extending from said one end 171 to the other end 173 alongthe extension direction of the blade 170 may be defined as an extensionlength of the blade 170, and the height L2 from said one end 171 to theother end 173 of the blade 170 may be defined as a height of the blade170.

For example, when the number of turns that the blade 170 is wound on thepillar 150 at the same height L2 of the blade 170 is increased, theextension length L3 of the blade 170 is increased.

When the extension length L3 of the blade 170 with respect to the heightL2 of the blade 170 becomes larger, a contact area between the blade 170and the water may increase and the inclination angle A of the blade 170may be increased.

For reference, the inclination angle A of the blade 170 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 9. Referring toFIG. 9, it may be understood that a case in which the height L2 of theblade 170 and the extended length L3 of the blade 170 are the samecorresponds to a case in which the inclination angle A of the blade 170corresponds to 90 degrees. In addition, it may be understood that as theextended length L3 of the blade 170 is gradually increased, theinclination angle A of the blade 170 is gradually lowered. A detaileddescription of the inclination angle A of the blade 170 shown in FIG. 9will be described later.

As for the blade 170, as the inclination angle A of the blade 170 basedon the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 decreases, formingforces of the ascending water flow and the descending water flowgenerated when the rotator 100 rotates may be increased.

In FIG. 9, the inclination angle A of the blade 170 is defined withrespect to the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 andindicated. However, when considering the inclination angle A of theblade 170 based on the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150, asthe extended length L3 of the blade 170 increases, the inclination angleA of the blade 170 may increase as a result.

In one example, when the extended length L3 of the blade 170 isincreased with respect to a predetermined height of the blade 170, theforming forces of the ascending water flow and the descending water flowby the blade 170 may be increased, but a forming force of a rotationalwater flow in the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 may bereduced. When the forming force of the rotating water flow is reduced,the load acting on the driver 50 when the rotator 100 rotates may bereduced.

In one example, when the extended length L3 of the blade 170 isexcessively reduced, the forming force of the rotational water flow maybe increased. However, the load of the driver 50 may be increased, andthe forming forces of the ascending water flow and the descending waterflow of the water may be excessively reduced, which may bedisadvantageous to the formation of the three-dimensional water flow andto the improvement of the washing efficiency.

FIG. 24 shows a graph showing a load of the driver 50 based on theextended length L3 of the blade 170 with respect to the height L2 of theblade 170 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. A horizontal axisof FIG. 23 represents the extended length L3 of the blade 170 withrespect to the height L2 of the blade 170, and a vertical axisrepresents the load of the driver 50.

The load of the driver 50 may be identified by a difference between atarget RPM input to the driver 50 by the controller 70 and an actual RPMthat follows the target RPM. The load of the driver 50 may also beidentified through a change in a current value supplied to the driver50.

The graph of FIG. 24 is a result of measuring the load of the driver 50by changing the extended length L3 of the blade 170 while fixing theheight of the pillar and the height L2 of the blade 170 to predeterminedheights.

Referring to FIG. 24, it is identified that the load of the driver 50 isreduced as the extended length L3 of the blade 170 is increased. This isunderstood as a result of the decrease in the inclination angle A of theblade 170 resulted from the increase in the extended length L3 of theblade 170, and the decrease in the resistance of water to the rotationof the rotator 100 resulted from the decrease in the inclination angle Aof the blade 170.

However, it is identified that a reduction rate of the load of thedriver 50 based on the increase in the extended length L3 of the blade170 increases starting from a ratio of the extended length L3 of theblade 170 to the height L2 of the blade 170 of 1.4, which may beunderstood as a complex result reflecting fluidity of water.

In one example, an allowable load amount Y1 is indicated in FIG. 24. Theload of the driver 50 is related to a resistance acting on the blade170, and the allowable load amount Y1 means a load amount of the driver50 that is identified through theoretical prediction and repeatedexperiments to cause damage to the blade 170. However, the allowableload amount Y1 may be variously determined in consideration of amechanical limit or a control aspect of the driver 50 as well as theresistance of the blade 170.

As shown in FIG. 24, the load of the driver 50 is equal to or less thanthe allowable load amount Y1 at a ratio of the extended length L3 of theblade 170 equal to or higher than 1.4. Therefore, the rotator 100 withthe ratio of the extended length L3 of the blade 170 to the height L2 ofthe blade 170 equal to or higher than 1.4 is advantageous for theoperation of the driver 50 while effectively suppressing the damage ofthe blade 170.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the extendedlength L3 of the blade 170 is equal to or greater than 1.4 times theheight L2 of the blade 170, so that the inclination angle A of the blade170 that may effectively form the forming forces of the ascending waterflow and the descending water flow may be secured, and unnecessary loadincrease of the driver 50 may be prevented.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the extendedlength L3 of the blade 170 is equal to or less than 1.8 times the heightL2 of the blade 170, so that the forming force of the rotating waterflow parallel to the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 maybe effectively secured in addition to the forming forces of theascending water flow and the descending water flow.

FIG. 25 shows a graph showing a washing ability of the rotator 100 basedon the extended length L3 of the blade 170 with respect to the height L2of the blade 170 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. Ahorizontal axis of FIG. 25 represents the extended length L3 of theblade 170 with respect to the height L2 of the blade 170, and a verticalaxis represents the washing ability of the rotator 100.

The graph of FIG. 25 is a result of measuring the washing ability of therotator 100 by changing the extended length L3 of the blade 170 whilefixing the height of the pillar 150 and the height of the blade 170 tothe predetermined heights.

Referring to FIG. 25, it is identified that the washing abilityincreases relatively significantly as the extended length L3 of theblade 170 increases when the extended length L3 of the blade 170 isequal to or less than 1.8 times the height L2 of the blade 170, and theincrease in the washing ability is reduced when the extended length L3of the blade 170 is greater than 1.8 times the height L2 of the blade170. This is to be understood as a result of decreasing a water flowforming ability while a contact area between water and the blade 170increases when the extended length L3 of the blade 170 exceeds 1.8 timesthe height L2 of the blade 170.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the extendedlength L3 of the blade 170 is equal to or less than 1.8 times the heightL2 of the blade 170, thereby effectively improving the washing abilitywhile minimizing the unnecessary increase in the load of the driver 50.

The extended length L3 of the blade 170 may be variously determineddepending on the height L2 of the blade 170, the diameter of the pillar150, the inclination angle A of the blade 170, the load amount of thedriver 50, a water flow formation level, and the like.

For example, the extended length L3 of the blade 170 may be equal to orgreater than 300 mm and equal to or smaller than 600 mm. The extendedlength L3 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greater than 350 mm andequal to or smaller than 550 mm. The extended length L3 of the blade 170may be equal to or greater than 400 mm and equal to or smaller than 500mm.

For example, the extended length L3 of the blade 170 may be equal to orgreater than 460 mm and equal to or smaller than 480 mm. The extendedlength L3 of the blade 170 may be 468 mm. The extended length L3 of theblade 170 corresponds to an example for helping the description andunderstanding of the present disclosure, and does not limit the presentdisclosure, and may allow for normal errors that may occur duringmanufacturing.

In one example, one embodiment of the present disclosure may include thewater supply 60 and the controller 70 as described above. The watersupply 60 may be constructed to supply the water into the tub 20, andthe controller 70 may control the water supply 60 in the washing processto adjust the amount of water supplied.

The controller 70 may control the water supply 60 such that the amountof water supplied preset based on an amount of laundry selected by theuser through the manipulation unit in the washing process is suppliedinto the tub 20.

For example, when the user selects a minimum amount as the amount oflaundry or when the amount of laundry is identified to be the minimumamount through a sensor or the like, a minimum amount of water suppliedcorresponding to the minimum amount of laundry may be preset in thecontroller 70, and the controller 70 may control the water supply 60such that the minimum amount of water supplied is supplied into the tub20.

In addition, when the amount of laundry is identified as a maximumamount by the user, the sensor, or the like, a maximum amount of watersupplied corresponding to the maximum amount of laundry may be preset inthe controller 70, and the controller 70 may control the water supply 60such that the maximum amount of water supplied is supplied into the tub20.

There may be various minimum criteria for the amount of laundry. Forexample, in a standard washing ability test in the United States, anamount of laundry of 3 kg or an amount of laundry of 8 lb is presentedas a small amount criteria. In one embodiment of the present disclosure,the minimum amount of water supplied may be an amount of water suppliedpreset for the laundry amount corresponding to 8 lb. In addition, theremay be various maximum criterion for the amount of laundry.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a water surface S1corresponding to the minimum amount of water supplied and a watersurface S2 corresponding to the maximum amount of water supplied areshown in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the controller 70 may control the water supply 60 such thatthe amount of water supplied is equal to or greater than the presetminimum amount of water supplied in the washing process, and the blade170 may be constructed such that the vertical level L4 of said one end171 with respect to the bottom portion 110 is equal to or lower than avertical level of the water surface S1 corresponding to the minimumamount of water supplied.

FIG. 7 shows a contact area between water and the rotator 100 havingsaid one end 171 of the blade 170 at a vertical level equal to or lowerthan a vertical level of the water surface S1 corresponding to theminimum water supply amount, according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

When the blade 170 is not submerged in the water, even when the rotator100 rotates, the ascending water flow and the descending water flow bythe blade 170 are not formed, which is disadvantageous. Therefore, inone embodiment of the present disclosure, in the washing process, atleast the minimum amount of water supplied may be supplied into the tub20. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, said one end 171 of the blade 170may be positioned at a vertical level equal to or lower than thevertical level of the water surface S1 corresponding to the presetminimum amount of water supplied such that the blade 171 may be alwayspositioned at a vertical level equal to or lower than a vertical levelof a water surface and submerged in the water despite a change in theamount of water supplied.

The minimum amount of water supplied may be the amount of water suppliedfor the amount of laundry of 8 lb, which is a criteria of a small loadtest in the authorized laundry test in the United States, as describedabove.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heightL4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or less than 0.25 times the diameterW1 of the drum 30. This means an optimal design value and the presentdisclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.

One embodiment of the present disclosure allows said one end 171 of theblade 170 to be always submerged in the water in the washing process orthe rinsing process, so that the water flow formation effect by therotation of the rotator 100 may occur effectively. To this end, theheight L4 of the blade 170 may be designed to be 0.25 times the diameterW1 of the drum 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the pillar 150 protrudes upward from thebottom portion 110, the vertical level L4 of said one end 171 of theblade 170 may correspond to a vertical upward distance from the bottomportion 110.

The vertical level L4 of said one end 171 of the blade 170 may bespecifically determined based on the minimum amount of water suppliedand the diameter W1 of the drum 30. For example, the larger the minimumamount of water supplied, the higher the vertical level L4 of said oneend 171 of the blade 170 may be determined. In addition, the larger thediameter W1 of the drum, the lower the vertical level L4 of said one end171 of the blade 170.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the minimum amount of watersupplied may be the amount of water supplied for the amount of laundryof 8 lb as described above. Considering the diameter W1 of the drum 30that is usually determined therefor, the height L4 of the blade 170 maybe equal to or less than 0.25 times the diameter W1 of the drum 30, andthe vertical level L4 may be lower than the vertical level of the watersurface S1.

FIG. 26 is a graph showing a water contact area of the blade 170 basedon the height L4 of the blade 170 with respect to the diameter W1 of thedrum 30 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. A horizontal axisof FIG. 26 represents the height L4 of the blade 170 with respect to thediameter W1 of the drum 30, and a vertical axis represents the watercontact area of the blade 170.

The graph in FIG. 26 is a result of measuring the water contact area ofthe blade 170 by changing the height L4 of the blade 170 with respect tothe bottom portion 110 while maintaining shape characteristics of theblade 170 constant.

The minimum water supply amount may be changed based on the size of thedrum 30 and the like. Therefore, the minimum water supply amount may bereflected in the change in the diameter W1 of the drum 30. Thus, in thegraph of FIG. 25, the height L4 of the blade 170 with respect to thediameter W1 of the drum 30 was used as the horizontal axis variable. Thecontact area between the blade 170 and water may be identified bydiluting a colored dye with water and identifying the contact areamarked on the blade 170.

Referring to FIG. 26, as the height L4 of the blade 170 decreases, thewater contact area of the blade 170 decreases. However, it may be seenthat a reduction rate of the water contact area is increased when theheight L4 of the blade 170 exceeds 0.25 times the diameter W1 of thedrum 30.

The change in the reduction rate of the water contact area as describedabove may be a result affected by the shape characteristics of said oneend 171 of the blade 170. For example, the blade 170 may have a shape inwhich a surface area thereof is reduced toward said one end.Accordingly, a change may occur in the rate of change of the watercontact area based on the change in the height L4 of the blade 170.

In one example, as will be described later, said one end 171 of theblade 170 is spaced apart from the bottom portion 110, the mainprotrusion 132, or the like to define a passage region of water, therebyreducing the load of the driver 50. That is, when the height L4 of theblade 170 is increased, it may be advantageous to reduce the load on thedriver 50.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the height L4 ofthe blade 170 is equal to or less than 0.25 times the diameter of thedrum 30, so that the passage region of water may be defined and the loadof the driver 50 may be reduced by spacing said one end 171 of the blade170 apart from the bottom portion 110 and the like, and the washingefficiency may be effectively improved by minimizing the decrease in thewater contact area based on the increase in the height L4 of the blade170.

The height L4 of the blade 170 may be determined in consideration ofvarious factors such as the length of the pillar 150, the height of themain protrusion 132 to be described later, setting of the passage regionof water, and the like, in addition to the water contact area.

For example, the height L4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 50 mm and equal to or smaller than 150 mm. The height L4 of theblade 170 may be equal to or greater than 60 mm and equal to or smallerthan 140 mm. The height L4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 70 mm and equal to or smaller than 130 mm.

For example, the height L4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 80 mm and equal to or smaller than 120 mm. The height L4 of theblade 170 may be 95 mm. The height L4 of the blade 170 corresponds to anexample for helping the description and understanding of the presentdisclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow fornormal errors that may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, as for theblade 170, said one end 171 may be located below a water surface of thewater stored in the tub 20 and the other end 173 may be located abovethe water surface in the washing process.

In FIG. 5, the vertical level of the water surface S1 at the minimumamount of water supplied and the vertical level of the water surface S2at the maximum amount of water supplied, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure are indicated. FIG. 8 shows a contact areabetween the rotator 100 and water with the maximum water supply amountaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, it is shown that said one end 171 of theblade 170 is located at a vertical level closer to the bottom portion110 than the vertical level of the water surface S1 based on the minimumamount of water supplied, and the other end 173 of the blade 170 islocated at a vertical level further from the bottom portion 110 than thevertical level of the water surface S2 based on the maximum amount ofwater supplied.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the other end 173 of theblade 170 is disposed to be spaced apart from the water surface of thewater stored in the tub 20 toward the open surface 31 at all times, sothat the water flow by the blade 170 may always be formed up to an upperportion of the water even when the amount of water stored in the tub 20is changed in the washing process.

The position of the other end 173 of the blade 170 may be determined inconsideration of various factors such as the diameter W1 of the drum 30,the maximum amount of water supplied, the length L1 of the pillar 150,and the like.

In one example, in the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure, the controller 70 may control thewater supply 60 such that the amount of water supplied is equal to orless than the preset maximum amount of water supplied in the washingprocess. In addition, the blade 170 may be constructed such that thevertical level of the other end 173 with respect to the bottom portion110 may be equal to or higher than the vertical level of the watersurface S2 corresponding to the maximum amount of water supplied.

The amount of water supplied to the tub 20 may vary based on the amountof laundry or the result of manipulation of the manipulation unit by theuser. One embodiment of the present disclosure allows the other end 173of the blade 170 to be located at the vertical level equal to or higherthan the vertical level of the water surface S2 even for the maximumamount of water supplied that may be provided to the tub 20 in thewashing process, so that the water flow by the blade 170 may be formedup to the upper portion of the water stored in the tub 20 even when theamount of water supplied is changed.

In one example, FIG. 9 shows the inclination angle A of the blade 170extending obliquely with respect to the circumferential direction C ofthe pillar 150 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.Referring to FIG. 9, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theblade 170 may extend such that the inclination angle A with respect tothe circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 is uniform. FIG. 9shows the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 and theinclination angle A with respect thereto.

The blade 170 may be disposed on the outer circumferential surface 162of the pillar 150, extend from said one end 171 facing toward the bottomportion 110 to the other end 173 facing toward the open surface 31,extend in a form inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction Lor the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150, and extend suchthat the inclination angle A with respect to the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150 is uniform.

When the inclination angle A of the blade 170 changes, the inclinationangle A of the blade 170 is changed over the height of the pillar 150,so that formation levels of the ascending water flow and the descendingwater flow may be different. In addition, in the process of forming theblade 170 on the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150,the change of the inclination angle A of the blade 170 may bedisadvantageous in manufacturing and may limit a manufacturing scheme.

For example, when the inclination angle A of the blade 170 is uniform,uniform formation of the ascending water flow and the descending waterflow may be expected throughout the length L1 of the pillar 150, and amold may be simply rotated and separated in the process of integrallymolding the pillar 150 and the blade 170, which may be advantageous inmanufacturing.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theinclination angle A of the blade 170 may be variously determined inrelation to the length L1 of the pillar 150, the diameter of the pillar150, the number of turns of the blade 170, and the like.

When the inclination angle A of the blade 170 with respect to thecircumferential direction C of the pillar 150 is too small, For acertain number of turns of the blade 170, the height L2 of the blade 170in the pillar 150 is too small to reduce the water flow formationeffect.

In addition, when the inclination angle A of the blade 170 is too large,mechanical loads acting on the blade 170 and the pillar 150 may beincreased when the rotator 100 rotates, the load of the driver 50 mayalso be increased, and the effect of ascending and descending of waterfor the same number of rotations of the rotator 100 may be reduced,which may be disadvantageous.

In one example, FIG. 9 shows a horizontal force Fr and a vertical forceFz acting by the blade 170. The horizontal force Fr and the verticalforce Fz mean forces acting on the water by the rotation of the blade170, the horizontal force Fr means a force acting in the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150, and the vertical force Fz means a forceacting in the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150.

The horizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz of the blade 170affect the water flow formation. For example, the horizontal force Fr ofthe blade 170 may contribute to forming the rotational water flow, andthe vertical force Fz of the blade 170 may contribute to forming theascending water flow or the descending water flow. The horizontal forceFr of the blade 170 may correspond to the load of the driver 50.

The horizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz of the blade 170 maybe adjusted by the inclination angle A of the blade 170. Referring toFIG. 9, as the inclination angle A of the blade 170 increases, thehorizontal force Fr may become stronger and the vertical force Fz maybecome weaker, and as the inclination angle A of the blade 170decreases, the horizontal force Fr may become weaker and the verticalforce Fz may become stronger.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the ascending water flowor the descending water flow is formed together in addition to therotating water flow through the rotation of the rotator 100 includingthe blade 170 extending obliquely, the washing efficiency may beimproved through the three-dimensional water flow.

In improving the washing efficiency by forming the rotating water flowtogether with the ascending water flow or the descending water flow asabove, as a deviation between the horizontal force Fr and the verticalforce Fz by the blade 170 is large, only one water flow is stronglyformed, which may be disadvantageous in improving the washingefficiency.

Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may set an optimalrange for the inclination angle A of the blade 170, and thus, make thedeviation between the horizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz ofthe blade 170 to be equal to or less than an allowable deviation amountY2, thereby effectively improving the washing ability resulted from therotation of the rotator 100.

FIG. 27 is a graph showing the amount of deviation between thehorizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz of the blade 170 based onthe inclination angle A of the blade 170 in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. A horizontal axis of FIG. 27 represents theinclination angle A of the blade 170, and a vertical axis represents theamount of deviation between the horizontal force Fr and the verticalforce Fz.

In the graph of FIG. 27, the amount of deviation between the horizontalforce Fr and the vertical force Fz corresponds to an absolute value.That is, the deviation amount represents a numerical difference betweenthe horizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz and does not have anegative value.

Referring to FIG. 27, it may be seen that the amount of deviationbetween the horizontal force Fr and the vertical force Fz of the blade170 is equal to or less than the allowable deviation amount Y2 when theinclination angle A of the blade 170 is equal to or larger than 35degrees and equal to or smaller than 65 degrees.

The allowable deviation amount Y2 may be determined through repeatedexperiments of the actual washing process with reference to atheoretical calculation result. The allowable deviation amount Y2 may beset to various values as needed.

When considering the graph of FIG. 27, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the blade 170 may have the inclination angle A equal to orlarger than 35 degrees and equal to or smaller than 65 degrees.Therefore, the amount of deviation between the vertical force Fz and thehorizontal force Fr becomes equal to or less than the allowabledeviation amount Y2, so that, in addition to the rotating water flow,the ascending water flow or the descending water flow is effectivelyformed, thereby improving the washing efficiency through thethree-dimensional water flow.

The inclination angle A of the blade 170 may be strategically determinedin consideration of the amount of deviation between the horizontal forceFr and the vertical force Fz as well as the length L1 of the pillar 150and the water flow formation level. The numerical value for theinclination angle A of the blade 170 may allow a normal error range thatmay occur during manufacturing.

In one example, FIG. 10 shows a plurality of blades 170 spaced apartfrom each other along the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150.Referring to FIG. 10, the blade 170 may extend from said one end 171 tothe other end 173 while maintaining a spaced distance L5 between theplurality of blades 170 in the circumferential direction C of the pillar150 constant.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inclination angle A ofthe blade 170 may be constant over the extended length thereof, and thespaced distance L5 between the blades 170 in the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150 may be maintained constant over the heightof the pillar 150.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the spaced distance L5 between the blades170 is always maintained uniform at positions at which a vertical levelof the pillar 150 is gradually increased according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

In one example, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the pillar 150according to an embodiment of the present disclosure viewed from theopen surface 31.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the blade 170 may have atleast one surface 177 facing toward the open surface 31, and the othersurface 179 located on the opposite side of the one surface 177 and atleast partially facing toward the bottom portion 110.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when viewed from the opensurface 31, said one surface 177 may be connected to form an obtuseangle with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of thepillar 150 and the other surface 179 may be connected to form an acuteangle.

Specifically, the blade 170 may protrude from the outer circumferentialsurface 162 of the pillar 150 outwardly of the pillar 150, and may havesaid one surface 177 and the other surface 179. In one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, said one surface 177 of the blade 170 may beunderstood as a surface at least a portion of which faces toward theopen surface 31, and the other surface 179 of the blade 170 may beunderstood as a surface at least a portion of which faces toward thebottom portion 110.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the blade 170 extends obliquely insaid one direction C1 among the circumferential directions C of thepillar 150, said one surface 177 of the blade 170 may correspond to asurface directed in the other direction C2 among the circumferentialdirections C of the pillar 150, and the other surface 179 of the blade170 may correspond to a surface directed in said one direction C1 amongthe circumferential directions C of the pillar 150.

Said one surface 177 of the blade 170 may correspond to a surface thatascends water upward when the pillar 150 rotates in the other directionC2, and the other surface 179 of the blade 170 may correspond to asurface that descends water to downward when the pillar 150 rotates insaid one direction C1.

In addition, referring to FIG. 11, when viewed from the open surface 31or when viewed from above when the pillar 150 extends in the verticaldirection, said one surface 177 of the blade 170 may be connected suchthat an angle B1 thereof with respect to the outer circumferentialsurface 162 of the pillar 150 forms an obtuse angle.

Accordingly, when the pillar 150 is rotated, said one surface 177 of theblade 170 may move such that the resistance by water may be effectivelyreduced, and the water and the laundry may spread outward in a radialdirection of the bottom portion 110, thereby preventing tangling of thelaundry.

For example, when said one surface 177 of the blade 170 forms an acuteangle with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of thepillar 150, the laundry may show a tendency to gather to the center O ofthe pillar 150 when the rotator 100 is rotated to form the ascendingwater flow. When the pillar 150 is extended in the vertical direction,it may be difficult for the laundry, which gathers to the center O ofthe pillar 150, to spread to the inner circumferential surface of thedrum 30 again by the self load of the laundry.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the pillar150 rotates in the other direction C2, said one surface 177 of the blade170 that forms the ascending water flow forms an obtuse angle withrespect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150, sothat, together with the formation of the ascending water flow, thelaundry may be moved to be away from the pillar 150, thereby suppressingthe tangling of the laundry.

In addition, when the rotator 100 rotates to form the ascending waterflow, self loads of the water and the laundry may act on the blade 170.When said one surface 177 that contributes to forming the ascendingwater flow in the blade 170 forms the acute angle, it may bedisadvantageous because the load acting on the blade 170 increasesexcessively.

Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure makes said onesurface 177 of the blade 170 that forms the ascending water flow formthe obtuse angle with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162of the pillar 150, thereby effectively reducing the load acting on theblade 170.

In one example, when viewed from the open surface 31, the other surface179 of the blade 170 may be connected while an angle B2 thereof withrespect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150 formsan acute angle. The other surface 179 of the blade 170 may beconstructed to form the acute angle with respect to the outercircumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150 in a geometricrelationship with said one surface 177 of the blade 170 that forms theobtuse angle with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 ofthe pillar 150.

In addition, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the othersurface 179 of the blade 170 forms the acute angle, when the rotator 100is rotated in said one direction C1 to form the descending water flow bythe other surface 179 of the blade 170, a water flow in which thelaundry gathers toward the pillar 150 is formed, so that a motion inwhich laundry existing at a lower portion of the drum 30 is pushed bylaundry at an upper portion to be away from the pillar 150 may beinduced.

Such movement tendency of the laundry in the descending water flow maybe related to the self load of the laundry. That is, when the descendingwater flow is formed by the rotation of the blade 170, as the laundry ismoved toward the pillar 150 and descends, the laundry existing at thelower portion of the drum 30 may move toward the inner circumferentialsurface of the drum 30 by a load of the laundry descending from theupper portion. In one example, referring to FIG. 11, in one embodimentof the present disclosure, said one surface 177 of the blade 170 may beconnected while forming a curvature with respect to the outercircumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150. In addition, the othersurface 179 of the blade 170 may also be connected while forming acurvature with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of thepillar 150.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as said one surface 177 andthe other surface 179 of the blade 170 are connected to the outercircumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150 while respectively formingthe curvatures, fluidity of water flowing along said one surface 177 andthe other surface 179 of the blade 170 may be improved and theresistance by the water may be reduced when the pillar 105 is rotated.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a curvature R1 of said one surface 177 of the blade 170 withrespect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150 maybe smaller than a curvature R2 of the other surface 179 of the blade170.

That is, the curvature R2 formed by the other surface 179 of the blade170 with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar150 may be greater than the curvature R1 formed by said one surface 177of the blade 170. Accordingly, water resistance and fluidity withrespect to the other surface 179 of the blade 170 that forms the acuteangle with respect to the outer circumferential surface 162 of thepillar 150 may be effectively improved.

In one example, FIG. 12 shows a view of the rotator 100 according to anembodiment of the present disclosure viewed from the open surface 31.When the top surface of the drum 30 corresponds to the open surface 31and the pillar 150 extends in the vertical direction, FIG. 12 maycorrespond to a front view of the rotator 100.

Referring to FIG. 12, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theblade 170 extends obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction Lof the pillar 150. In addition, when viewed from the open surface 31, anangle D formed between said one end 171 and the other end 173 withrespect to the center O of the pillar 150 may be equal to or larger 144degrees and equal to or smaller than 216 degrees. For example, the angleD formed by said one end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade may be170 degrees, 175 degrees, 180 degrees, and the like.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle D formed betweensaid one end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade 170 with respect tothe center O of the pillar 150 may be understood as the number of turnsof the blade 170. For example, when the angle D formed by said one end171 and the other end 173 is 180 degrees, and when the number of turnsof the blade 170 corresponds to 0.5, and the angle D formed by said oneend 171 and the other end 173 is 360 degrees, the number of turns ofblade 170 corresponds to 1.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of turns of theblade 170 may be equal to or higher than 0.4 and equal to or lower than0.6. For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, thenumber of turns of blade 170 may be 0.45, 0.5, 0.55, and the like.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the number of turns of theblade 170 is equal to or lower than 0.6, so that, even when theplurality of blades 170 are disposed on the outer circumferentialsurface 162 of the pillar 150 and extend obliquely, it is possible toprevent mutual contact or overlapping of the blades 170.

In one example, FIG. 28 shows a graph showing a load of the driver 50based on the number of turns of the blade 170 in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. A horizontal axis of FIG. 28 represents the numberof turns of the blade 170, and a vertical axis represents the load ofthe driver 50. In the graph of FIG. 28, a case of two blades 170 (n2), acase of three blades 170 (n3), and a case of four blades 170 (n4) areindicated separately.

Referring to FIG. 28, as the number of turns of the blade 170 increases,the load on the driver 50 may be reduced. This means that the height ofthe blade 170 is fixed. An increase in the number of turns in the statein which the height of the blade 170 is fixed may eventually lead to anincrease in the inclination angle A of the blade 170.

As described above, when the inclination angle A of the blade 170increases, the resistance by the water is reduced when the rotator 100is rotated, so that the load of the driver 50 may be reduced, but thewater flow forming force may be reduced, which may adversely affect thewashing efficiency.

FIG. 28 shows the allowable load amount Y1 described above. In the caseof the three blades 170 (n3), it may be seen that the load of the driver50 equal to or less than the allowable load amount Y1 is generated whenthe number of turns of the blade 170 is equal to or higher than 0.4.

Also in the case of the two blades 170 (n2), it may be seen that theload of the driver 50 equal to or less than the allowable load amount Y1is generated when the number of turns of the blade 170 is 0.4. Even inthe case of four blades 170 (n4), the load of the driver 50 equal to orless than the allowable load amount Y1 may be generated with the numberof turns of the blade 170 equal to or lower than 0.6.

One embodiment of the present disclosure may be provided with the threeblade 170 as shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, as the number of turns of the blade 170 is set to beequal to or higher than 0.4 and equal to or lower than 0.6, the load ofthe driver 50 may be equal to or less than the allowable load amount Y1considering the damage of the blade 170 or an operating limit of thedriver 50.

In one example, FIG. 29 shows a graph showing the washing ability of therotator 100 based on the number of turns of the blade 170 in oneembodiment of the present disclosure. A horizontal axis of FIG. 29represents the number of turns of the blade 170, and a vertical axisrepresents an ascending and descending water flow formation amount ofthe rotator 100.

The ascending and descending water flow formation amount of the rotator100 may have a close relationship with the washing ability of therotator 100. An ascending and descending water flow includes theascending water flow and the descending water flow described above. Inthe washing process, a floating material is put into the drum 30, and anascending and descending degree of the floating material is observed andquantified.

For example, it may be understood that the greater the number offloating materials identified on the water surface when the ascendingwater flow is formed by the rotator 100, the greater the ascending waterflow formation amount. It may be understood that the smaller the numberof floating materials identified on the water surface when thedescending water flow is formed, the greater the descending water flowformation amount.

As the ascending and descending water flow includes the ascending waterflow and the descending water flow, the ascending and descending waterflow formation amount may be calculated by averaging the ascending waterflow formation amount and the descending water flow formation amount. Inone example, in the graph of FIG. 29, the case of the two blades 170(n3), the case of the three blades 170 (n3), and the case of four blades170 (n4) are indicated separately.

Referring to FIG. 29, it may be seen that the ascending and descendingwater flow formation amount decreases as the number of turns of theblade 170 increases. However, it may be seen that the ascending anddescending water flow formation amount has a low value and has a changeamount that is not large when the number of turns of the blade 170 isgreater than 0.6.

In other words, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, anascending and descending water flow formation amount of a valid valuemay occur with the number of turns of the blade 170 equal to or lowerthan 0.6. Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure may setthe number of turns of the blade 170 to be equal to or lower than 0.6 tosecure the ascending and descending water flow formation amount of asufficient value.

In addition, when the number of turns of the blade 170 exceeds 0.6, thegap between the blades 170 is reduced, which may increase a possibilitythat the laundry is jammed, and it is disadvantageous in terms of spaceto have the plurality of, such as the three, blades 170. Therefore, bydesign, contact or overlap between the blades 170 may be induced.

Therefore, one embodiment of the present disclosure makes the angle Dformed by said one end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade 170 to beequal to or larger than 144 degrees and equal to or smaller than 216degrees, that is, makes the number of turns of the blade 170 to be equalto or higher than 0.4 and equal to or lower than 0.6, so that it ispossible to effectively reduce the loads of the rotator 100 and thedriver 50, secure a design advantage, and effectively secure the waterflow formation effect.

FIG. 12 shows that the three blades 170 are spaced apart from each otheron the outer circumferential surface 162 of the pillar 150, and theangle D formed by said one end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade170 is 180 degrees, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

In one example, as will be described later, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the protrusion 130 may be disposed on the bottomportion 110, and the protrusion 130 may include a main protrusion 132that contributes to the water flow formation. The angle D formed by saidone end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade 170 may be determined inconsideration of a positional relationship with the main protrusion 132.

For example, when the number of turns of the blade 170 is equal to orhigher than 0.6 and the height L2 between said one end 171 and the otherend 173 of the blade 170 is increased by maintaining the inclinationangle A of the blade 170, said one end 171 of the blade 170 may becometoo close to the main protrusion 132 of the bottom portion 110, which isunfavorable to the molding of the rotator 100.

As above, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the angle Dformed by said one end 171 and the other end 173 of the blade 170 may bedetermined in consideration of the positional relationship between theprotrusion 130 and the blade 170 of the bottom portion 110.

In one example, FIG. 13 shows an enlarged view of the protrusion 130 ofthe bottom portion 110 shown in FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the laundry treating apparatus 1 accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include theprotrusion 130. The protrusion 130 may protrude from the bottom portion110 toward the open surface 31, extend along a radial direction of thebottom portion 110, and may include a plurality of protrusions spacedapart from each other along the circumferential direction of the bottomportion 110.

The protrusion 130 protrudes from the bottom portion 110 toward the opensurface 31, and extends along the radial direction of the bottom portion110 to form the water flow in the water inside the tub 20 when thebottom portion 110 rotates. That is, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, when the rotator 100 is rotated, the blade 170 of the pillar150 and the protrusion 130 of the bottom portion 110 may form the waterflow together.

The shape of the protrusion 130 may vary. For example, a thickness ofthe protrusion 130 may be constant or may vary when necessary. Aprotruding height or an extended length of the protrusion 130 may alsobe variously determined.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the protrusion 130 ofthe bottom portion 110 is disposed together with the blade 170 of thepillar 150, the blade 170 and the protrusion 130 form the water flowtogether, so that the water flow forming effect may be effectivelyimproved. In addition, because the blade 170 and the protrusion 130cooperatively form the water flow, the washing effect by the water flowmay be increased and the shape of the water flow may be improved.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theprotrusion 130 may be constructed such that a protruding height thereoffrom the bottom portion 110 is equal to or smaller than a height of thewater S1 corresponding to the minimum water supply amount.

As the protrusion 130 is constructed such that the protruding heightthereof from the bottom portion 110, that is, a maximum vertical levelof the protrusion 130 is equal to or lower than the vertical level ofthe water surface S1 corresponding to the minimum water supply amount,like said one end 171 of the blade 170, the protrusion 130 may beconstructed to always be submerged in water in the washing process toform the water flow.

As described above, FIG. 5 shows the vertical level of the water surfaceS1 corresponding to the minimum water supply amount, and the protrusion130 having the protruding height from the bottom portion 110 equal to orsmaller than the height of the water S1 corresponding to the minimumwater supply amount.

In one example, FIG. 14 shows the protrusion 130 shown in FIG. 13 asviewed from the side, that is, the circumferential direction of thebottom portion 110. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, in one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, at least two of the plurality of protrusions ofprotrusion 130 may have different protruding heights from the bottomportion 110.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the plurality ofprotrusions are constructed to have different heights, when the rotator100 is rotated, the water flow by the protrusion 130 may be generated ina three-dimensional form, thereby effectively improving a washingperformance.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, one of the plurality ofprotrusions may have a protruding height of a first height, and anothermay have a protruding height of a second height. The first height may begreater than second height. Therefore, the protrusion of the firstheight may be advantageous in forming a water flow of a larger scalethan the protrusion of the second height. The protrusion of the secondheight may contribute to stabilizing or maintaining the water flowformed by the protrusion of the first height.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, in addition to theprotrusions of the first height and the second height, the protrusionshaving various heights may be disposed.

In one example, referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the protrusion 130 may include a main protrusion132. A plurality of main protrusions 132 may be disposed and may includean inner end 133 facing the pillar 150. The inner end 133 of the mainprotrusion 132 may be connected to the pillar 150.

The inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 may face the center of thebottom portion 110. That is, the inner end 133 of the main protrusion132 may face the pillar 150. An outer end of the main protrusion 132 mayface a circumferential side of the bottom portion 110. That is, theouter end of the main protrusion 132 may face the opposite side of theinner end 133.

The plurality of protrusions may include protrusions having differentcharacteristics. The inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 among theplurality of protrusions may be connected to the pillar 150. The mainprotrusion 132 may be integrally molded with the bottom portion 110 ormay be separately manufactured and coupled thereto. The inner end 133 ofthe main protrusion 132 may be integrally formed with the pillar 150 ormanufactured separately and coupled and connected to the pillar 150.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the main protrusion 132 integrally molded with thebottom portion 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure,and connected to the pillar 150 as the inner end 133 thereof isintegrally molded with the pillar 150.

The main protrusion 132 may contribute to the formation of the waterflow the most among the plurality of protrusions when the bottom portion110 rotates. For example, the main protrusion 132 may be constructedsuch that a protruding height L8 thereof from the bottom portion 110,which is the first height, is the greatest among the protruding heightsof the plurality of protrusions, and the inner end 133 and the pillar150 are connected to each other, so that the main protrusion 132 maycontribute to the formation of the water flow the most.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the mainprotrusion 132 may have the protruding height L8 from the bottom portion110 equal to or smaller than the height of the water S1 corresponding tothe minimum water supply amount. The main protrusion 132 may have theprotruding height L8 of the first height, which is the greatest amongthe protruding heights of the plurality of protrusions. The mainprotrusion 132 may be constructed such that the protruding height L8thereof is equal to or smaller than the height of the water S1corresponding to the minimum water supply amount, so that the mainprotrusion 132 may always be submerged in the washing process.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the protruding height L8 ofthe main protrusion 132 may vary. For example, the protruding height L8of the main protrusion 132 may be equal to or greater than 10 mm andequal to or smaller than 100 mm. The protruding height L8 of the mainprotrusion 132 may be equal to or greater than 30 mm and equal to orsmaller than 90 mm. The protruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132may be equal to or greater than 50 mm and equal to or smaller than 80mm.

For example, the protruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132 may beequal to or greater than 60 mm and equal to or smaller than 70 mm. Theprotruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132 may be 63 mm. Theprotruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132 corresponds to anexample for helping the description and understanding of the presentdisclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow fornormal errors that may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the protrusion 130 may further include a firstsub-protrusion 135. There may be a plurality of first sub-protrusions135, and each first sub-protrusion 135 may be disposed between a pair ofmain protrusions 132. A protruding height from the bottom portion 110 ofthe first sub-protrusion 135 may be smaller than that of the mainprotrusion 132.

The main protrusion 132 may extend from the pillar 150 to acircumference of the bottom portion 110, and the first sub-protrusion135 may have a smaller extended length than the main protrusion 132. Aprotruding height of the first sub-protrusion 135 may be smaller thanthe protruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132.

For example, the protruding height of the first sub-protrusion 135 maycorrespond to the second height, the main protrusion 132 may have theprotruding height L8 corresponding to the first height, and the secondheight may correspond to a height smaller than the first height.

The first sub-protrusion 135 may be disposed between the two mainprotrusions 132. The number of the main protrusions 132 and the numberof first sub-protrusions 135 may be variously designed as needed. Thenumber of the main protrusions 132 may correspond to the number of theblades 170.

For reference, FIG. 12 shows the rotator 100 having the three blades170, having the three main protrusions 132, and having each firstsub-protrusion 135 between a pair of main protrusions 132, which is atotal of three first sub-protrusions 135, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the number of theprotrusions disposed on the bottom portion 110 increases, it may beadvantageous to form the water flow. However, when the plurality ofprotrusions are made of only the main protrusions 132, the number of themain protrusions 132 may be limited by a size of the main protrusions132. As a distance between the main protrusions 132 becomes smaller, aspace between the main protrusions 132 may not affect the water flowformation and may adversely affect an increase in a washing ability,such as forming an unnecessary vortex.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the first sub-protrusion135 rather than the main protrusion 132 is disposed between the pair ofmain protrusions 132, the space between the pair of main protrusions 132may be sufficiently secured. In the space between the pair of mainprotrusions 132, the first sub-protrusion 135 flows the water, which isadvantageous for the formation of the water flow.

Shapes of the main protrusion 132 and the first sub-protrusion 135 mayvary when need. FIG. 13 shows a state in which the main protrusion 132has a streamline-shaped side surface, and the first sub-protrusion 135is formed in a rib shape according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

The main protrusion 132 may be constructed such that a width thereof inthe circumferential direction of the bottom portion 110 increases fromthe inner end 133 toward the outer end, and an increase rate of thewidth may increase toward the outer end.

That is, the main protrusion 132 may have a shape of a whale tail thatincreases in width toward the circumference of the bottom portion 110and have a side surface forming a concave curved surface. The mainprotrusion 132 having the whale tail shape may reduce resistance bywater when the bottom portion 110 rotates, and may improve fluidity ofwater. Because the water flow flowing by the main protrusion 132 mayflow to said one end 171 of the blade 170, it may be advantageous toform the water flow.

The first sub-protrusion 135 may be formed in a shape of a rib extendingfrom the pillar 150 to the circumference of the bottom portion 110.However, the shapes of the main protrusion 132 and the firstsub-protrusion 135 are not necessarily limited as described above, andmay be variously designed as needed.

In one example, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the protrusion 130 may further include a secondsub-protrusion 137. The second sub-protrusion 137 may be disposedbetween the main protrusion 132 and the first sub-protrusion 135, and aprotruding height from the bottom portion 110 of the secondsub-protrusion 137 may be smaller than that of the first sub-protrusion135.

The second sub-protrusion 137 may be disposed between one mainprotrusion 132 and one first sub-protrusion 135 positioned adjacent tosaid one main protrusion 132. That is, the second sub-protrusion 137 maybe disposed between the main protrusion 132 and the first sub-protrusion135.

The second sub-protrusion 137 may be integrally formed with the bottomportion 110 or manufactured separately and coupled to the bottom portion110. FIGS. 13 and 14 show the second sub-protrusion 137 integrallyformed with the bottom portion 110 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

The second sub-protrusion 137 may have a smaller protruding height thanthe first sub-protrusion 135. For example, in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, the protruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132may correspond to the first height, the protruding height of the firstsub-protrusion 135 may correspond to the second height smaller than thefirst height, and the protruding height of the second sub-protrusion 137may correspond to a third height smaller than the second height.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality ofprotrusions may have the main protrusion 132, the first sub-protrusion135, and the second sub-protrusion 137 having the different heights.Accordingly, the water flow by the bottom portion 110 may be formedthree-dimensionally and effectively.

In one example, referring to FIG. 13, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a plurality of second sub-protrusions 137 may be disposedbetween the main protrusion 132 and the first sub-protrusion 135, and anextended length thereof may increase as being closer to the firstsub-protrusion 135.

The number of the second sub-protrusions 137 disposed between one mainprotrusion 132 and one first sub-protrusion 135 may be variouslydetermined as needed. FIG. 13 shows a state in which four secondsub-protrusions 137 are disposed between each main protrusion 132 andeach first sub-protrusion 135 according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

Lengths of the plurality of second sub-protrusions 137 disposed betweenone main protrusion 132 and one first sub-protrusion 135 may increase ina direction toward the first sub-protrusion 135 and decrease in adirection toward the main protrusion 132.

Accordingly, the plurality of second sub-protrusions 137 maycontinuously complement the flow of water between the main protrusion132 and the first sub-protrusion 135 to improve fluidity.

The second sub-protrusion 137 may have an extending direction parallelto the first sub-protrusion 135. Accordingly, an inner end of one of theplurality of second sub-protrusions 137 located far from the firstsub-protrusion 135 may not face the pillar 150.

The second sub-protrusions 137 may be disposed together with the firstsub-protrusion 135 to improve the fluidity of water between the mainprotrusions 132.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, theprotrusion 130, for example, the main protrusion 132, the firstsub-protrusion 135, and the second sub-protrusion 137 may contribute toimproving flatness of the bottom portion 110.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotator 100 may bemanufactured by injection molding, and a manufacturing process thereofmay be completed through out-of-mold cooling after the rotator 100 istaken out from a molding apparatus.

In the out-of-mold cooling process, deformation, such as shrinkage, ofthe bottom portion 110 may occur because of the cooling. The protrusion130 disposed on the bottom portion 110 may contribute to suppressing thedeformation of the bottom portion 110. Therefore, the protrusion 130 maycontribute to the improvement of the flatness of the bottom portion 110.

In addition, the bottom portion 110 may have a space defined therein,and the space may be opened toward the bottom surface 33 of the drum 30.A plurality of reinforcing portions protruding toward the bottom surface33 of the drum 30 and extending in the circumferential direction or theradial direction of the bottom portion 110 may be disposed in the spaceof the bottom portion 110.

The reinforcing portion may contribute not only to securing the rigidityof the bottom portion 110 in which the space is defined, but also tosuppressing the deformation of the bottom portion 110 that may occur inthe out-of-mold cooling process.

In one example, FIG. 15 shows a positional relationship between theinner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 of theblade 170. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, said one end 171of the blade 170 facing toward the bottom portion 110 may be positionedto be spaced apart from the main protrusion 132 along the longitudinaldirection L of the pillar 150. That is, said one end 171 of the blade170 may be spaced apart from the inner end 133 of the main protrusion132 based on the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the pillar 150 extendsin the vertical direction, it may be understood that said one end 171 ofthe blade 170 is spaced upwardly apart from the protrusion 130.

As the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 ofthe blade 170 have a spaced distance L6 therebetween along thelongitudinal direction L of the pillar 150, a passage region of watermay be defined between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 andsaid one end 171 of the blade 170.

The passage region of the water corresponds to a region through whichthe water from which the direct flow is not formed by the blade 170 andthe protrusion 130 passes. Accordingly, in the rotator 100, a portion ofwater passes the region between the blade 170 and the protrusion 130, sothat the resistance of water may be reduced.

The passage region may correspond to a connection portion of the pillar150 and the bottom portion 110. The connection portion may need to bedesigned to reduce a possibility of breakage in consideration of aconnection relationship between the pillar 150 and the bottom portion110, and may correspond to a portion disadvantageous for integrallymolding the blade 170 and the protrusion 130 with the pillar 150 and thebottom portion 110.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the innerend 133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction L ofthe pillar 150, there may be an advantage in manufacturing, and it maybe advantageous in forming the water flow by effectively reducing theresistance of the water. FIG. 30 shows a graph showing a load of thedriver 50 based on the spaced distance L6 between the main protrusion132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170 in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In the graph of FIG. 30, a horizontal axisrepresents the vertical spaced distance L6 between the main protrusion132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170, and a vertical axisrepresents the load of the driver 50.

The graph of FIG. 30 is a result of measuring the load of the driver 50by increasing the spaced distance L6 between the blade 170 and the mainprotrusion 132 while maintaining the height L2 between said one end 171and the other end 173 of the blade 170.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spaced distance L6between the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170along the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 may correspond to aheight of the passage region of the water. Referring to FIG. 30, it maybe seen that the load of the driver 50 gradually decreases and thenincreases again as the spaced distance L6 of the blade 170 increases.

The behavior of reduction of the load of the driver 50 based on theincrease in the spaced distance L6 of the blade 170 may be understood tobe affected by the passage region of water described above. The increasein the load of the driver 50 again after the region in which the load ofthe driver 50 is reduced may be understood to be affected by a structureof the blade 170 that is disadvantageous to the rotation as the blade170 gradually moves away from the bottom portion 110, and by gradualdecrease in the effect of forming the water flow of the main protrusion132 and the blade 170 in association with each other.

In FIG. 30, the allowable load amount Y1 described above is indicated.One embodiment of the present disclosure may space the main protrusion132 and the blade 170 apart from each other by selecting an optimalrange in which the load of the driver 50 less than the allowable loadamount Y1 is generated.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the mainprotrusion 132 and the blade 170 have the vertical spaced distance L6equal to or greater than 10 mm and equal to or smaller than 30 mm, theamount of the load of the driver 50 may be set to be equal to or lessthan the allowable load amount Y1. For example, the spaced distance L6of the blade 170 may be 15 mm, 20 mm, 22 mm, 25 mm, 30 mm, or the like.

However, the above numerical value is only an example for describing oneembodiment of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is notnecessarily limited to the above numerical value. The numerical valuesshould have to allow for a normal error range that may occur duringmanufacturing.

In one example, referring to FIG. 15, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the length L8 of the inner end 133 of the main protrusion132 protruding from the bottom portion 110 may be greater than theupward spaced distance L6 of said one end 171 of the blade 170 from theinner end 133 of the main protrusion 132.

That is, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, based on thelongitudinal direction L of the pillar 150, the spaced distance orheight L6 between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 and saidone end 171 of the blade 170 may be smaller than the protruding lengthor height L8 of the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 from thebottom portion 110.

When the spaced distance L6 between the inner end 133 of the mainprotrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170 increases, it maybe advantageous for reducing the resistance of water and improving thedurability of the rotator 100, but it is disadvantageous for forming thewater flow. So that a limit may be needed for the spaced distance L6between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end171 of the blade 170.

In addition, as seen in the graph shown in FIG. 30 above, the increasein the spaced distance L6 between the inner end 133 of the mainprotrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170 may rather increasethe load of the driver 50 starting from a certain level.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, because theprotruding height L8 of the main protrusion 132 may correspond to aregion in which the water flow is formed by the main protrusion 132.Thus, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the protrudingheight L8 of the main protrusion 132 is greater than the spaced heightL6 between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end171 of the blade 170, the passage region of water may be efficientlydefined while securing an ability to form the water flow.

Based on the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150, the spaceddistance L6 between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132 andsaid one end 171 of the blade 170 may be variously determined as needed.

For example, the vertical spaced distance L6 between the inner end 133of the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170 may beequal to or greater than 5 mm and equal to or smaller than 60 mm. Thespaced distance L6 may be equal to or greater than 10 mm and equal to orsmaller than 50 mm. The spaced distance L6 may be equal to or greaterthan 20 mm and equal to or smaller than 40 mm.

For example, the spaced distance L6 may be equal to or greater than 25mm and equal to or smaller than 35 mm. The spaced distance L6 may be 27mm, 32 mm, and the like. The spaced distance L6 corresponds to anexample for helping the description and understanding of the presentdisclosure, and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow fornormal errors that may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the heightL4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greater than 0.1 times thediameter W1 of the drum 30.

As described above, said one end 171 of the blade 170 may be disposed atthe vertical level equal to or lower than the vertical level of thewater surface S1 corresponding to the minimum water supply amount.However, in order to secure the protruding height L8 of the mainprotrusion 132 and the spaced distance L6 between the main protrusion132 and the blade 170 described above, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the height L4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 0.1 times the diameter W1 of the drum 30.

That is, as described above, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the height L4 of the blade 170 may be equal to or greaterthan 0.1 times and equal to or less than 0.25 times the diameter W1 ofthe drum 30.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, whilesufficiently securing the protruding height L8 of the main protrusion132 and also sufficiently securing the spaced distance L6 between theblade 170 and the main protrusion 132, the vertical level L4 of said oneend 171 of the blade 170 may be equal to or less than the vertical levelof the water surface S1 corresponding to the minimum water supplyamount.

The vertical level L4 of said one end 171 of the blade 170 may bevariously determined in a specific design by the height L8 of the mainprotrusion 132, the spaced distance L6 between the main protrusion 132and the blade 170, the diameter W1 of the drum 30, the minimum watersupply amount, and the like.

In one example, when referring to FIG. 15, in the laundry treatingapparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, saidone end 171 of the blade 170 may be disposed at a position spaced apartfrom the main protrusion 132 in said one direction C1 among thecircumferential directions C of the pillar 150.

That is, when the blade 170 extends from said one end 171 to the otherend 173, the blade 170 may extend obliquely toward said one direction C1among the circumferential directions C of the pillar 150, and said oneend 171 of the blade 170 may have a spaced distance L7 in said onedirection C1 from the inner end 133 of the main protrusion 132.

The main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 may form the water flow inassociation with each other. When said one end 171 of the blade 170 ispositioned vertically above the inner end 133 of the main protrusion132, the water flowing by the main protrusion 132 may flow while passingsaid one end 171 of the blade 170 when the rotator 100 rotates. This maylead to the formation of unnecessary turbulent water flow, which may bedisadvantageous in a relationship with the blade 170.

In addition, the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 may be spacedapart from each other in the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150to define the passage region of water therebetween. When said one end171 of the blade 170 is located vertically above the main protrusion132, the effect of the blade 170 on the water passing between the blade170 and the main protrusion 132 is increased, so that the effect ofreducing the resistance of water may be reduced.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as said one end171 of the blade 170 is disposed to be spaced apart from the inner end133 of the main protrusion 132 in said one direction C1, the water flowformed by the main protrusion 132 may continuously reach said one end171 of the blade 170 and the effect of reducing water resistance may beimproved.

In one example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, said oneend 171 of the blade 170 may have the spaced distance L6 along thelongitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 from the main protrusion 132greater than the spaced distance L7 along said one direction C1.

Because the water flow formed by the main protrusion 132 has a strongascending force on a side of the bottom portion 110, one embodiment ofthe present disclosure may improve continuity of the water flow andsecure the sufficient passage region of water by allowing the spaceddistance L6 between the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 along thelongitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 to be greater than the spaceddistance L7 between the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 along thecircumferential direction C of the pillar 150.

FIG. 31 shows a graph showing a ratio of the spaced distance L7 betweenthe main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 along the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150 to the spaced distance L6 between the mainprotrusion 132 and the blade 170 along the longitudinal direction L ofthe pillar 150 in one embodiment of the present disclosure and thewashing ability.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the spaced distance betweenthe main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 along the longitudinaldirection L of the pillar 150 will be referred to as the vertical spaceddistance L6 of the blade 170, and the spaced distance between the mainprotrusion 132 and the blade 170 along the circumferential direction Cof the pillar 150 will be referred to as the horizontal spaced distanceL7 of the blade 170. However, this is only for convenience ofdescription and does not limit the longitudinal direction L of thepillar 150 to the vertical direction or the circumferential direction Cof the pillar 150 to the horizontal direction.

The graph of FIG. 31 is a result of measuring the washing ability of therotator 100 by changing the horizontal spaced distance L7 of the blade170 while maintaining the vertical spaced distance L6 of the blade 170at a predetermined distance.

Referring to FIG. 31, it may be seen that the washing ability increasesas the horizontal spaced distance L7 increases with respect to theconstant vertical spaced distance L6. However, in a region of thehorizontal spaced distance L7 out of a range of the horizontal axis inFIG. 31, the washing ability may be decreased along with the increase ofthe horizontal spaced distance L7.

It may be identified that an increase rate of the washing ability withrespect to the increase of the horizontal spaced distance L7 isrelatively high when the ratio of the horizontal spaced distance L7 tothe vertical spaced distance L6 is equal to or lower than 1, and it maybe identified that the increase rate of the washing ability is greatlyreduced when the ratio of the horizontal spaced distance L7 to thevertical spaced distance L6 is equal to or higher than 1.

That is, when the ratio of the horizontal spaced distance L7 to thevertical spaced distance L6 is equal to or lower than 1, as thehorizontal spaced distance L7 increases, the washing ability may beeffectively increased. Therefore, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, it is advantageous in terms of efficiency for securing thewashing ability that the vertical spaced distance L6 has a larger valuethan the horizontal spaced distance L7.

Further, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the increase inthe horizontal spaced distance L7 may create a design constraint betweenthe plurality of blades 170 and the plurality of main protrusions 132.For example, when the horizontal spaced distance L7 of the blade 170 isincreased, a restriction on the mold for molding the rotator 100 may becreated, which may be disadvantageous in the manufacturing.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the rotator 100is constructed such that the spaced distance L6 between the inner end133 of the main protrusion 132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170based on the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150 is greater thanthe spaced distance L7 between the inner end 133 of the main protrusion132 and said one end 171 of the blade 170 based on the circumferentialdirection C of the pillar 150, thereby effectively improving the washingability.

The spaced distance L7 between the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170based on the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 may bedetermined by specifically considering various factors such as thethickness and the protruding height of the main protrusion 132, thenumber of turns of the blade 170, and the like.

For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spaceddistance L7 between the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170 along thecircumferential direction C of the pillar 150 may be equal to or greaterthan 5 mm and equal to or smaller than 50 mm. The spaced distance L7 maybe equal to or greater than 10 mm and equal to or smaller than 40 mm.The spaced distance L7 may be equal to or greater than 15 mm and equalto or smaller than 30 mm.

For example, the spaced distance L7 may be equal to or greater than 20mm and equal to or smaller than 25 mm. The spaced distance L7 may be 20,21, 22 mm, or the like. The spaced distance L7 corresponds to an examplefor helping the description and understanding of the present disclosure,and does not limit the present disclosure, and may allow for normalerrors that may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, FIG. 15 shows an inclination angle M between a sidesurface of the main protrusion 132 and the bottom portion 110, and theinclination angle A of the blade 170. Referring to FIG. 15, in oneembodiment of the present disclosure, the inclination angle M formed bythe side surface of the main protrusion 132 with respect to thecircumferential direction C of the pillar 150 may be greater than theinclination angle A of the blade 170.

As described above, when the rotator 100 is rotated, the water aroundthe bottom portion 110 ascends by the main protrusion 132, and the waterascended by the main protrusion 132 is provided to said one end 171 ofthe blade 170, so that the water flow may be formed. That is, when therotator 100 rotates, the water flow may be continuously formed by theside surface of the main protrusion 132 and the blade 170.

The side surface of the main protrusion 132 may form the inclinationangle M with respect to the bottom portion 110, and the water on theside of the bottom portion 110 may be flowed by the side surface of themain protrusion 132 and ascend when the rotator 100 rotates.

In one example, the water ascending by the main protrusion 132 may formthe ascending water flow and the like by the blade 170, and the flow ofwater may decrease in the ascending force in the process of reaching theblade 170 after ascending by the main protrusion 132, so that it isadvantageous that the inclination angle M of the side surface of themain protrusion 132 is greater than the inclination angle A of the blade170 in order for the water flow that reaches the blade 170 through themain protrusion 132 to maintain the continuity.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inclinationangle M formed by the side surface of the main protrusion 132 withrespect to the circumferential direction C of the pillar 150 is greaterthan the inclination angle A of the blade 170, thereby increasing theascending effect of the water by the main protrusion 132 and effectivelymaintaining the continuity of the water flow flowing from the mainprotrusion 132 to the blade 170.

In one example, FIG. 16 shows a state in which a cap 165 is disposed atan end of the pillar 150 facing toward the open surface 31 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 18 shows the pillar 150from which the cap 165 is separated, and FIG. 19 shows acap-coupled-portion 156 disposed at the end of the pillar 150.

Referring to FIGS. 16, 18, and 19, in the laundry treating apparatus 1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pillar 150 maybe formed in a hollow shape, and may have an opening 158 incommunication with an interior thereof defined at the end facing towardthe open surface 31. In addition, the cap 165 coupled to the end toshield the opening 158 may be included.

The pillar 150 may be formed in the hollow shape in which an empty spaceis defined. Accordingly, it is advantageous that the pillar 150 may beformed through a vertical movement of the mold when molding the pillar150, the load on the driver 50 may be reduced as a weight of the pillar150 is reduced, and unnecessary waste of materials may be prevented.

In one example, the opening 158 in communication with the interior ofthe pillar 150 in the hollow shape may be defined at the end of thepillar 150 facing toward the open surface 31. That is, when the pillar150 extends in the vertical direction, the opening 158 may be defined atthe upper end of the pillar 150.

In order to mold the pillar 150 in the hollow shape, during the moldingprocess of the rotator 100, a solid core-shaped mold for maintaining theshape of the pillar 150 may be inserted into the pillar 150. As suchmolding process is performed, the opening 158 may be defined at the endof the pillar 150.

The pillar 150 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and one surfacefacing toward the open surface 31, for example, a top surface of thepillar 150 may be opened to define the opening 158. However, thespecific shape of the pillar 150 may be variously determined as needed.

In one example, the cap 165 may be coupled to the end of the pillar 150to shield the opening 158. The cap 165 may be formed in various shapessuch as a plate shape, a cup shape, or the like, and may be coupled tothe end of the pillar 150 to shield the opening 158.

A scheme for coupling the cap 165 and the pillar 150 to each other maybe varied. For example, the cap 165 may be coupled to the end of thepillar 150 in various schemes, such as a screw coupling scheme, a hookcoupling scheme, or the like.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to secure amolding advantage and secure an advantage in manufacturing and operationof the rotator 100 as the pillar 150 is formed in the hollow shape, andit is possible to effectively prevent an unnecessary situation in whichforeign substances are accumulated inside the pillar 150 as the opening158 of the pillar 150 is shielded by the cap 165.

In one example, referring to FIG. 16, in an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the other end 173 of the blade 170 facing toward the opensurface 31 may be positioned spaced apart from the cap 165. That is, theother end 173 of the blade 170 may be spaced apart from the cap 165along the longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150. When the pillar150 extends in the vertical direction, the other end 173 of the blade170 may be spaced downward from the cap 165.

The injection molding scheme using the mold may be used in the moldingprocess of the rotator 100, and the pillar 150 and the blade 170 may beintegrally molded. In the molding process of the rotator 100, a coolingprocess of the rotator 100 may be performed, and the cooling process mayinclude an in-mold cooling process and an out-of-mold cooling process.

In one example, when the out-of-mold cooling process is in progress,shrinkage of the pillar 150 and the blade 170 may occur.

In the out-of-mold cooling process, depending on a thickness deviationbetween the blade 170 and the pillar 150 and a position of the blade170, a shrinkage amount may vary throughout the other end 154 facingtoward the open surface 31 of the drum 30 and/or the cap-coupled-portion156 of the pillar 150. When the cap-coupled-portion 156 is deformedbecause of the variation in the shrinkage amount, it may bedisadvantageous for the cap 165 to be coupled to the cap-coupled-portion156.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the other end 173 of theblade 170 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the cap 165 so as tosuppress the variation in the shrinkage amount and the deformation ofthe cap-coupled-portion 156 based on presence or absence of the blade170.

Accordingly, an amount of shrinkage deformation caused by the blade 170may be reduced at the cap-coupled-portion 156 at which the cap 165 islocated. Therefore, it may be easy for the cap 165 to be coupled to thepillar 150, that is, the cap-coupled-portion 156, after the rotator 100is molded.

FIGS. 17A to 17C show an amount of deformation of thecap-coupled-portion 156 based on a spaced distance L9 between the cap165 and the blade 170 in one embodiment of the present disclosure. InFIG. 17A, the spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade 170corresponds to a first distance. In FIG. 17B, the spaced distance L9between the cap 165 and the blade 170 corresponds to a second distancelarger than the first distance. In FIG. 17C, the spaced distance L9between the cap 165 and the blade 170 corresponds to a third distancelarger than the second distance.

Referring to FIGS. 17A to 17C, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, as the spaced distance L9 between the blade 170 and the cap165 increases, the amount of deformation of the cap-coupled-portion 156decreases. This is because, as described above, the shrinkage amountvaries throughout the pillar 150 and the cap-coupled-portion 156 by thepresence of the blade 170 in the cooling process, for example, in theout-of-mold cooling process, of the rotator 100.

Furthermore, as a deviation between a thickness Tb of the blade 170 anda thickness Ta of the other end 154 at which the cap-coupled-portion 156is disposed in the pillar 150 increases, the amount of deformation ofthe cap-coupled-portion 156 may be increased. This is because thegreater the deviation between the thickness Tb of the blade 170 and thethickness Ta of the pillar 150, the greater the deviation in the amountof shrinkage occurred in the cooling process. In consideration of this,the spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade 170 may beadjusted.

Specifically, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the spaceddistance L9 between the blade 170 and the cap 165 may be equal to ormore than twice the deviation amount between the thickness Tb of theblade 170 and the thickness Ta of the pillar 150.

The thickness Tb of the blade 170 means a value measured on the outercircumferential surface of the pillar 150. That is, when the thicknessof the blade 170 decreases as the distance from the pillar 150increases, the thickness Tb of the blade 170 may be the greatest value.

The thickness Ta of the pillar 150 means the thickness Ta of the pillar150 on which the cap-coupled-portion 156 is located. That is, thethickness Ta of the pillar 150 may be measured on the opening 158 of thepillar 150 and may mean a thickness between the inner circumferentialsurface and the outer circumferential surface of the pillar 150. Forexample, when the thickness Ta of the pillar 150 gradually decreasesfrom said one end facing toward the bottom portion toward the other end154, the thickness Ta of the pillar 150 may be the smallest value.

For reference, FIG. 11 shows the thickness Tb of the blade 170 and thethickness Ta of the pillar 150 for determining the spaced distance L9between the blade 170 and the cap 165 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

In one example, FIG. 32 is a graph showing a relationship between thespaced distance L9 between the blade 170 and the cap 165 and the amountof deformation of the cap-coupled-portion 156 in one embodiment of thepresent disclosure. In the graph of FIG. 32, a horizontal axisrepresents a ratio of the spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and theblade 170 to the deviation amount between the thickness Tb of the blade170 and the thickness Ta of the pillar 150, and a vertical axisrepresents the amount of deformation of the cap-coupled-portion 156.

The deviation amount between the thickness Tb of the blade 170 and thethickness Ta of the pillar 150 is an absolute value, and thus, does nothave a negative value. The amount of deformation of thecap-coupled-portion 156 may be calculated through a deviation amountbetween a distance D1 from a center of the pillar 150 to the farthestpoint of the cap-coupled-portion 156 and a distance D2 from the centerof the pillar 150 to the nearest point of the cap-coupled-portion 156.

For reference, FIG. 17A shows the distance D1 from the center of thepillar 150 to the farthest point of the deformed cap-coupled-portion 156and the distance D2 from the center of the pillar 150 to the closestpoint of the deformed cap-coupled-portion 156.

The graph of FIG. 32 is a result of observing the amount of deformationof the cap-coupled-portion 156 after the cooling process while changingthe spaced distance L9 between the blade 170 and the cap 165 in a statein which the thickness Tb of the blade 170 and the thickness Ta of thepillar 150 are maintained at constant values.

Referring to FIG. 32, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, itmay be seen that the amount of deformation of the cap-coupled-portion156 is reduced as the spaced distance L9 between the blade 170 and thecap 165 increases. In the graph of FIG. 32, an allowable deformationamount Y3 is indicated. The allowable deformation amount Y3 means amaximum deformation amount within a range in which the cap 165 may becompletely coupled to the cap-coupled-portion 156 after the coolingprocess.

The allowable deformation amount Y3 may be determined in considerationof results of repeated experiments, stability of coupling between thecap 165 and the cap-coupled-portion 156, and the like.

As may be seen in the graph of FIG. 32, when the spaced distance L9between the cap 165 and the blade 170 is at least twice the thicknessdeviation amount between the blade 170 and the pillar 150, thedeformation amount of the cap-coupled-portion 156 may be equal to orless than the allowable deformation amount Y3.

Therefore, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, as the spaceddistance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade 170 is equal to or greaterthan twice the deviation amount between the thickness Ta of the pillar150 and the thickness Tb of the blade 170, even when the out-of-moldcooling process is performed and the cap-coupled-portion 156 isdeformed, a complete coupling between the cap 165 and thecap-coupled-portion 156 may be achieved.

In one example, referring to FIG. 16, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the blade 170 may be positioned such that the other end 173thereof is spaced apart from the cap 165, and the spaced distance L9between the other end 173 and the cap 165 based on the longitudinaldirection L of the pillar 150 may be smaller than a length L10 of thecap 165.

As described above, the other end 173 of the blade 170 may be disposedto be spaced apart from the cap 165 for ease of coupling of the cap 165.However, as the spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the other end173 of the blade 170 increases, a region occupied by the blade 170 inthe pillar 150 may be reduced, which may be disadvantageous in improvinga contact area between the blade 170 and the water.

Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may limit thespaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade 170 to be smallerthan the length L10 of the cap 165. The spaced distance L9 between thecap 165 and the blade 170 and the length L10 of the cap 165 are to beunderstood as vertical distances along the longitudinal direction L ofthe pillar 150 as shown in FIG. 16.

The spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade 170 and thelength L10 of the cap 165 may be specifically determined inconsideration of various factors such as the length L1 of the pillar150, utilization of the cap 165, the thickness of the blade 170, theinclination angle A, or the like.

For example, the spaced distance L9 between the cap 165 and the blade170 may be equal to or greater than 5 mm and equal to or smaller than 50mm. The spaced distance L9 may be equal to or greater than 10 mm andequal to or smaller than 40 mm. The spaced distance L9 may be equal toor greater than 15 mm and equal to or smaller than 30 mm.

For example, the spaced distance L9 may be equal to or greater than 20mm and equal to or smaller than 25 mm. The spaced distance L9 may be 22mm, 23 mm, or the like. The spaced distance L9 corresponds to an examplefor helping description and understanding of the present disclosure, anddoes not limit the present disclosure, and may allow for normal errorsthat may occur during manufacturing.

In one example, for example, the length L10 of the cap 165 may be equalto or greater than 5 mm and equal to or smaller than 50 mm. The lengthL10 of the cap 165 may be equal to or greater than 10 mm and equal to orsmaller than 45 mm. The length L10 of the cap 165 may be equal to orgreater than 15 mm and equal to or smaller than 40 mm.

For example, the length L10 of the cap 165 may be equal to or greaterthan 25 mm and equal to or smaller than 35 mm. The length L10 of the cap165 may be 30 mm, 33 mm, 33.5 mm, or the like. The length L10 of the cap165 described above corresponds to an example for helping descriptionand understanding of the present disclosure, and does not limit thepresent disclosure, and may allow for normal errors that may occurduring manufacturing.

In one example, FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view of the rotator 100viewed in a lateral direction according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The lateral direction may be a direction perpendicular tothe longitudinal direction L of the pillar 150.

Referring to FIG. 20, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, thepillar 150 may be constructed such that a thickness W4 between the innercircumferential surface 160 and the outer circumferential surface 162 atthe end facing toward the bottom portion 110 is greater than a thicknessW3 between the inner circumferential surface 160 and the outercircumferential surface 162 at the end facing toward the open surface31.

The pillar 150 may be formed in the hollow shape, and thus may have theinner circumferential surface 160 surrounding the inner space and theouter circumferential surface 162 exposed to the outside. The thicknessof the pillar 150 may be understood as a distance between the innercircumferential surface 160 and the outer circumferential surface 162.

The pillar 150 may include the end facing toward the bottom portion 110and the end facing toward the open surface 31. The thickness W4 betweenthe inner circumferential surface 160 and the outer circumferentialsurface 162 at the end facing toward the bottom portion 110 may begreater than the thickness W3 between the inner circumferential surface160 and the outer circumferential surface 162 at the end facing towardthe open surface 31.

As described above, the pillar 150 may be manufactured through injectionmolding. The pillar 150 manufactured by the injection molding may beadvantageous for the blade 170 to be integrally molded. In one example,in the pillar 150 manufactured by the injection molding, the thicknessW4 of a lower portion may be greater than the thickness W3 of an upperportion by a load of the material.

In addition, as described above, the connection portion between thepillar 150 and the bottom portion 110 needs to be designed to be strongagainst breakage. Accordingly, because the pillar 150 is constructedsuch that the thickness W4 of the lower portion is greater than thethickness W3 of the upper portion, strength of the connection portionmay be improved. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the thickness W4 of the lower portion of the pillar 150 maybe greater than the thickness W3 of the upper portion.

Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described inrelation to a specific embodiment, it is understood that the presentdisclosure may be variously improved and changed within the scope of thetechnical idea of the present disclosure provided by the followingclaims. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not belimited to the described embodiment and should be defined by the claimsdescribed later as well as the equivalents of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a tubconfigured to receive water; a water supply configured to supply waterto the tub; a controller configured to control the water supply tothereby adjust a water supply amount in a washing process to be greaterthan or equal to a minimum water supply amount that is preset for thewashing process; a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub, the drumhaving an open surface defined at a top surface thereof and a bottomsurface located at an opposite side of the open surface; a rotationshaft coupled to the bottom surface of the drum; and a rotator rotatablydisposed in the drum, the rotator comprising: a bottom portionpositioned at the bottom surface of the drum, a pillar that protrudesupward from the bottom portion, and a blade that protrudes from an outercircumferential surface of the pillar and has a first end facing thebottom portion and a second end facing the open surface, the bladeextending from the first end to the second end, wherein the first end ofthe blade is disposed below a vertical position corresponding to theminimum water supply amount.
 2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim1, wherein a vertical distance between the first end of the blade andthe bottom portion is less than or equal to 0.25 times of a diameter ofthe drum.
 3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesecond end of the blade is located above the vertical positioncorresponding to the minimum water supply amount.
 4. The laundrytreating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured tocontrol the water supply to supply an amount of water that is less thanor equal to a maximum water supply amount preset for the washingprocess, and wherein the second end of the blade is disposed at or abovea vertical position corresponding to the maximum water supply amount. 5.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotator furthercomprises a protrusion that protrudes upward from the bottom portion andthat extends in a direction away from the pillar.
 6. The laundrytreating apparatus of claim 5, wherein a protruding height of theprotrusion from the bottom portion is less than or equal to the verticalposition corresponding to the minimum water supply amount.
 7. Thelaundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first end of theblade is upwardly spaced apart from the protrusion.
 8. The laundrytreating apparatus of claim 7, wherein a vertical distance between thefirst end of the blade and the bottom portion is less than or equal to0.1 times of a diameter of the drum.
 9. The laundry treating apparatusof claim 7, wherein the protrusion comprises a plurality of protrusionsthat are spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction ofthe bottom portion.
 10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9,wherein at least two of the plurality of protrusions have differentprotruding heights from each other with respect to the bottom portion.11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the plurality ofprotrusions comprise a main protrusion having an inner end connected tothe pillar, and wherein a protruding height of the main protrusion isgreater than a protruding height of any other protrusions among theplurality of protrusions.
 12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim11, wherein the protruding height of the main protrusion from the bottomportion is less than or equal to the vertical position corresponding tothe minimum water supply amount.
 13. The laundry treating apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein a protruding height of the inner end of the mainprotrusion from the bottom portion is greater than a distance betweenthe first end of the blade and the inner end of the main protrusion. 14.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 11, wherein the blade extendsalong a circumferential direction of the pillar and is inclined towardone side of the pillar with respect to a longitudinal direction of thepillar, and wherein the first end of the blade is spaced apart from themain protrusion in the circumferential direction.
 15. The laundrytreating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the blade extends obliquely withrespect to a longitudinal direction of the pillar, the blade comprisinga plurality of blades that are spaced apart from one another along acircumferential direction of the pillar.
 16. A laundry treatingapparatus comprising: a tub configured to receive water; a drumrotatably disposed inside the tub, the drum having an open surfacedefined at a top surface thereof and a bottom surface located at anopposite side of the open surface; a rotation shaft coupled to thebottom surface of the drum; and a rotator rotatably disposed in thedrum, the rotator comprising: a bottom portion positioned at the bottomsurface of the drum, a pillar that protrudes upward from the bottomportion, and a blade that protrudes from an outer circumferentialsurface of the pillar and has a first end positioned at a lower end ofthe bottom portion a second end positioned at an upper end of thepillar, the blade extending from the first end to the second end,wherein the first end of the blade is disposed below a vertical positionof a water surface of water in the tub for a washing process.
 17. Thelaundry treating apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a watersupply configured to supply water to the tub; and a controllerconfigured to control a water supply amount in the washing process, thewater supply amount being greater than or equal to a minimum watersupply amount preset for the washing process.
 18. The laundry treatingapparatus of claim 17, wherein the vertical position of the watersurface of water in the tub for the washing process corresponds to awater level in the tub corresponding to the minimum water supply amount.19. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second endof the blade is spaced apart from the upper end of the pillar.
 20. Thelaundry treating apparatus of claim 16, wherein the rotator furthercomprises a cap coupled to the upper end of the pillar, and wherein aheight of the cap is greater than a vertical distance between the secondend of the blade and the upper end of the pillar.